M^V^^ 


r-soTworKin 


Dangers  of  Working  Girls, 

OR, 

DEALERS  IN  WHITE  WOriEN. 


A  Romantic  Story  Founded  Upon   the  Play  of 

the  Same  Name.  . 


BY 


GRACE  MILLER^  WHITE, 

^•nthor  of  "Driven  From  Home,"  "Joe  Welch  the  Peddien"" 

"No  Wedding  Bells  for  Her,"  "Sky  Farm,"  "A  Midnight 

Marriage,"   '*  Souvenir  Book  of  •  'Way  Down  East'," 

"Why  Women  Sin,"   "Human  Hearts,"  "A 

Raigged  Hero,"  "  From  Rags  to  Riches," 

Etc..  Etc. 


>  Copyright,  1904,  by 

J.  S.  Ogilvie  Publishing  CoMPAmr. 


New  York  : 
I  J.  &  OGILVIE  PUBLISHING  COMPANYg 

57   Rose  Street. 


Try  Murine  Eye  Remedy 

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CBIGAGO,  V.  S.  . 


Dangers  of  Working  Girls 


CHAPTER  I. 

Tub  air  was  filled  with  ati^i^tj  rain.  Thfi  night 
shadows  were  beginning  to  desc end  early  because 
of  lateness  of  the  fall.  *  AHaootit  t5\e  ^triset^were 
hurrying  to  their  homes,  where  warm,  bright  fire- 
^'ides  allured  them.  But  there  w^as  one  unhappy 
little  creature  swaying  to  and  fro  in  her  misery 
and  loneliness  without  home  or  friends. 

She  dared  not  speak  to  the  passers-by.  Her 
one  ambition  seemed  to  be  to  get  away  from  the 
hurrying  crowd,  and  she  shrank  into  a  hallway 
iieveral  times,  only  to  crawl  forth  again  and  walk 
toward  the  river. 

Suddenljr  she  started  to  run  upon  hearing  foot- 
steps behind  her,  but  her  strength  gave  out  and 
she  sank  d^^wn  upon  a  nearby  step,  when  the 
sound  of  the  footsteps  came  nearer  and  she  timid- 

3 

1170515 


4  DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS. 

ly  raised  her  head,  but  the  new-comer  west  on  his 
way  without  looking  at  her,  and  she  sighed  and 
started  on  again. 

*^I  thought  it  was  he,"  whispered  she  to  herself. 
"There  is  nothing  now  that  does  not  put  me  in 
mind  of  him.  Oh,  God,  what  shall  I  do?  If  I  only 
knew  of  some  one  who  would  care  for  a  girl,  then 
I  would  not  go  to  the  river,  but  I  would  rather  die 
than  ha^^'.liim  fiii4  pQf^^  I 

S^e;stri]!gglfid.iip^\gair^,  her  wet  skirt  dragging 
about 'het'*'^Wepihg!^Miibs;  feeling  that  nothing 
remained  but  death  in  the  dark  river. 

What  gave  a  girl  inspiration  to  live  when  she 
had  no  money,  nothing  to  live  for  and  being 
hunted  to  earth  by  a  villain? 

Her  griefs  rushed  over  her  as  the  storm  grew 
more  furious,  and  thinking  she  heard  a  familiar 
step  she  hurried  on  faster  than  ever. 

"If  only  some  one  would  help  me  a  little  I 
would  be  so  happy,  but  I  can't  stay  out  in  the 
storm,  and  if  the  police  should  find  me  they  would 
give  me  over  to  him.  Oh,  God  in  heaven,  take  me 
to  Thyself  rather  than  have  that  happen." 

By  this  time  she  could  hear  the  rushing  of  the 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  5 

river  and  the  awful  lapping  and  roaring  of  the 
waves. 

"Oh,  they  seem  to  tell  me  of  a  peaceful  time  be- 
yond the  struggle  for  breath,"  said  she;  "yes,  I 
will  do  this  thing,  for  I  can  never  get  away  from 
him  again  if  he  finds  me." 

She  did  not  w  ait  to  lift  her  once  pretty  skirts. 
What  did  it  matter  now  if  her  legs  were  wet  and 
weak?  Just  beyond  was  warmth  and  forgetful- 
ness.  What  did  it  matter  if  she  were  hungry  and 
cold?  Just  beyond  there  would  be  no  hunger,  no 
chance  to  remember  that  she  had  been  like  a 
hunted  animal. 

Her  eyes  were  fastened  upon  the  dark  water 
and  her  fingers  clutched  at  a  small  bag  she  car- 
ried in  her  hand. 

"I'm  going  to  take  your  picture  with  me,  sweet 

.   father  and  mother,"  whispered  she.    "If  you  had 

only  lived  then  would  I  have  been  saved,  but 

father,  dear,  you,  too,  came  under  his  dreadful 

spell,  and  I'm  coming  to  you  both,  dear,  and  may 

/the  good  Savior  receive  my  spirit." 

^     Muttering  this,  she  lifted  her  head  and  peered^ 

Into  the  now  dense  darkness  and  shuddered  as  she 


g  DANGERS   OP  WORKING   GIRLS. 

heard  the  roaring  of  the  water.  Summoning  all 
her  courage,  she  stepped  to  the  edge.  Her  sweet 
face  worked  in  spasms  of  pain.  Her  tender,  sensi- 
tive mouth  took  upon  it  the  droop  of  death,  while » 
into  her  eyes  sprang  an  expression  of  relief.  She  * 
was  going  to  her  father  and  mother,  where  there 
would  be  no  trouble  for  her,  a  calm  awakening 
into  peace. 

The  waves  seemed  to  lap  farther  and  farther, 
as  if  tempting  her  into  their  depths.  She  reached 
out  her  hands  and  called  loudly  into  the  night 
air,  and  then  took  a  spring,  and  when  the  waves 
closed  over  the  curly  head  a  dark  hat  floated 
away  upon  the  water. 


A  young  man  was  hurrying  through  the  storm 
and  seemed  to  be  unwilling  to  wait  for  anything, 
for  another  traveler  ran  into  him,  and  the 
younger  of  the  two  barely  stopped  to  apologize. 
He,  too,  was  going  toward  the  river. 

"I  hope  to  heaven  that  Isidore  will  be  there," 
muttered  he,  as  he  drew  his  muffler  closer  to  keep 
out  the  rain.    "It  seems  as  if  we  are  bound  to 


DANGERS   OF  WORKING   GIRLS.  J 

escape  each  other.  But  it's  only  eight  o'clock,  and 
I  told  him  to  be  here  at  eight  fifteen.    A  fine  place 
for  two  old  pals  to  meet.    Whew !  what  a  storm !   ' 
I  feel  sorry  for  any  poor  devil  who  is  out  to-  j 
night."  *" 

He  hastened  his  footsteps  and  entered  the  pier- 
house. 

"Not  here,"  exclaimed  he;  "if  Izy  thinks  I'm 
going  to  stay  about  here  without  him  he's  much 
mistaken.    Why,  there  he  is  now." 

He  ran  forward  and  saw  the  figure  he  had 
taken  for  his  friend  was  the  form  of  a  woman. 

She  was  in  the  act  of  springing  from  the  dock, 
and  instantly  he  had  his  thoughts  about  him.  His 
eyes  were  glued  upon  the  spot  where  she  had  dis- 
appeared. Then  he  slipped  into  a  small  boat  at 
the  right  of  the  pier,  and  cutting  the  rope  was 
into  the  roaring  waves  in  an  instant.  The  girl's 
body  came  up  almost  in  the  place  where  he  was 
steadying  the  skiff.  He  put  out  his  hands  and 
grappled  with  her. 

"Don't,  don't,"  she  said;  "I  want  to  go  to 
mother.  I  want  to  be  with  them  both.  Let  me 
go — oh,  let  me  go !" 


3  DANGERS   OF  WORKING   GIRLS. 

But  the  determined  rescuer  had  no  such  inten- 
tions. He  drew  her,  struggling,  into  the  boat  and 
spoke  quite  sternly  to  her. 

"You  must  rest  quietly  there  until  I  get  you  to 
land,"  said  he.  "There,  now,  you'll  soon  be  where 
it  is  warm.  Poor  child,  don't  shiver  so.  I  will 
not  hand  you  over  to^  the  police." 

"Better  kill  me  than  that,"  moaned  the  girl. 
"Oh,  please  put  me  back  into  the  water.  I  was 
just  beginning  to  grow  warm.    Please,  please." 

Her  teeth  chattered  and  she  shuddered  as  the 
boat  came  against  the  pier.  He  drew  her  into  a 
safe  place,  and  then  turned  her  face  toward  the 
light.  Bedraggled  with  w^ater  and  soiled  with  the 
mud  into  which  she  had  sunk,  the  observer  ye^ 
could  see  that  she  was  beautiful.  Her  eyes  were 
luminous  with  fear  and  pleading  and  her  hair 
hung  in  wet  curls  about  the  pale,  lovely  face. 

"You  are  beautiful,"  said  he  slowly,  "and  yet 
you  were  trying  to  kill  yourself.  Little  woman, 
I've  been  right  there  myself  when  I  looked  into 
the  water  and  it  called  me  to  come.  Now,  listen, 
you  must  never  do  such  a  thing  again.  Never, 
never.     There  is  always  a  struggle  which  you 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  g 

must  make.  Here  is  some  money ;  go  to  that  hotel 
and  get  warmed  and  stay  all  night  and  to-morrow 
you  will  have  an  opportunity  to  get  something  to 
-;  do,  and  this  will  keep  you  a  long  time." 
'  Tremblingly  she  lifted  his  hand  to  her  lips,  and 
a  great  sob  rose  in  her  throat.  She  knew  not 
how  to  thank  him,  but  he  gave  her  no  chance,  for 
while  she  hesitated  he  pushed  her  gently  from 
him. 

"Don't  wait,  child,  to  thank  me ;  your  teeth  are 
chattering  so  that  you  will  catch  your  death  of 
cold,  and  you  can  hardly  walk  from  the  water  in 
your  clothes.  Wait  a  minute,  I'll  get  some  of  it 
out." 

Taking  his  gloves  from  his  hands,  he  wrung  the 
water  from  his  companion's  clothes.  She  stood 
looking  at  him  in  an  appealing  manner. 

"There  now,  you  won't  have  such  a  time  to 
walk,"  soothed  he.  "Now  run  and  don't  tell  any- 
one you  jumped  into  the  river.  Take  this  money, 
and  it  will  help  you.    Good-night." 

Like  a  frightened  deer  the  girl  ran  into  the 
darkness,  leaving  the  man  looking  after  her.    He 


g^Q  DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS, 

had  only  time  to  draw  himself  together  when  a 
voice  called  to  him : 

"Where  are  you,  Barney?" 

"Here.'' 

"Well,  for  the  love  of  heaven,  ain't  you  got 
nothing  to  do  but  to  stand  out  in  the  rain  on  a 
night  like  this?" 

The  speaker  was  of  Jewish  extraction  and  his 
brogue  was  harsh  and  somewhat  funny. 

The  man  spoken  to  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"Our  trade  knows  no  sunshine,"  said  he,  as  he 
lighted  a  cigar. 

"That's  true,  but  such  a  night !  The  very  rain 
is  like  a  set  of  needles  going  through  one's  skin."^ 

"Yes,"  said  the  other.  "I  was  just  saying  to 
myself  that  I  pitied  any  poor  devil  out  to-night.'^ 
But  he  said  nothing  about  the  girl  he  had  takea 
from  the  water. 

"Poor  little  girl,  I'll  keep  it  to  myself.  For  'tis 
none  of  Izy's  business."  He  took  some  long  puffs 
upon  his  cigar  and  held  his  head  high  in  the  air. 

"She  had  the  face  of  an  angel,"  muttered  he  to 
himself.  "I  wonder  what  sent  her  to  such  a  pass.'" 

"What  you  talking  to  yourself  for?"  asked  Izy, 


DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS.  11 

as  heidrew»his»coat  closer  about  his  form.  "Seems 
to  me  you're  acting  strange." 

"It's  cold;  that's  all.'' 

"Sure,  it's  cold,"  responded  the  Jew,  "but  that^ 
don't  need  to  make  you  mutter  like  a  magpie." 

"Well,  let's  make  plans.  Did  you  get  into  that 
house  ?'^ 

"Nope,  they  don't  want  no  help  there,"  was  the 
answer. 

"Did  you  apply?" 

"Did  I  apply?  Well,  I  guess  I  did,  and  what 
do  you  think,  when  I  insisted,  the  butler  gave  me 
a  kick  and  sent  me  out  in  the  rain." 

"Poor  Izy,  I  do  not  know  but  what  you  have  as 
trying  a  time  as  I  do." 

"Not  so  much  risk,  though,  boss,"  commented 
the  Jew.  "I  take  my  share  of  the  graft  without 
the  danger  of  getting  pinched." 

"Then  we'll  have  to  give  up  the  thought  of  that 
place,  for  I  cannot  get  into  a  house  without  your 
help." 

"Then  think  of  some  other  place,"  cried  Izy. 

"It's  hard  work  to  think,"  answered  Barney 


^2  DANGERS   OF  WORKING   GIRLS. 

Branton,  lifting  his  cigar  and  knocking  the  ashes 
from  the  end. 

"You've  had  your  own  success,  Barney/'  re- 
plied Izy.  "There  is  no  cracksman  in  the  city  as 
capable  of  getting  as  much  as  you  are." 

"True,  but  I  stand  in  the  shadow  of  the  prison 
all  the  time." 

"Nevertheless,  I  believe  that  your  wings  are 
tinged  with  invisibility,  so  that  you  cannot  be 
seen,  for  many  a  time  I  thought  you  were  caught 
and  you  were  gone  from  your  captors'  fingers.'* 

"Then  we  will  have  to  put  off  this  job  until  we 
can  get  a  better  one.  Don't  worry.  Something 
will  come  to  us,  and  I  will  send  you  a  list  of 
names  to  try.  Now,  there  is  that  Dean  house. 
They  say  that  he  is  as  wealthy  as  CroBSus  and 
always  has  a  lot  of  money  in  the  house.  I  may 
get  you  in  there.  But  now  go  home  or  your  teeth 
will  chatter  out  of  your  head." 

"Ain't  you  going?" 

"Not  yet.    I  do  not  mind  a  night  like  this." 

"I  hope  you  like  it  better  than  I  do.  I'm  going 
home;  good-night.  Write  me  if  you  hear  any- 
thing." 


DANGERS   OF  WORKING  GIRLS.  13 

The  little  Jew  walked  hurriedly  away,  striding 
through  the  storm  with  his  collar  high  up  about 
his  neck. 

Barney  Branton  stood  still  in  the  rain  after 
Izy  had  departed. 

"I  never  saw  such  eyes  in  a  human  head,"  de- 
clared he,  spreading  his  feet  to  stay  the  pressure 
of  the  wind  against  his  big  body.  "She  certainly 
was  a  lady.  What  were  those  words  she  said  as 
she  left? — that  she  hoped  that  God  would  keep 
me  from  all  harm,  and  thanked  me  for  saving  her 
life.  I  notice  that  was  after  I  gave  her  the  money. 
What  a  face!  by  Jove,  I  would  like  to  see  her 
again." 

He  looked  toward  the  hotel  he  had  told  her  to 
go  to,  but  shook  his  head. 

"What  right  have  you,  Barney  Branton,  to 
want  to  see  her,  as  good  a  girl  as  she  must  be? 
To  think  of  her  jumping  into  the  river  on  a  night 
like  this !  God,  but  the  very  sound  of  the  water 
sends  the  shivers  through  me  when  I  think  of  her. 
Lucky  I  made  that  appointment  with  Izy,  or  sh*  1 
would  by  this  time  have  joined  her  father  andf 
mother  she  wanted  to  see  so  badly." 


rj^4  DANGERS  OF  WORKING   GIRLS. 

Again  he  started  for  the  lighted  hotel. 

"Pshaw,  I've  done  all  I  could  for  her.  I  gave 
her  one  hundred  dollars,  and  that  will  keep  her 
until  she  can  get  work,  and  I  wish  now  I  had 
given  her  more." 

Barney  Branton  gave  himself  a  great  shake. 

"Now,  look  a-here,  Branton,"  cried  he,  "you  are 
the  king  of  the  cracksmen,  and  you  cannot  think 
of  a  girl.  But  how  my  heart  beats !  Those  eyes — 
oh,  heaven,  those  eyes." 

He  shook  himself  again  and  commenced  to 
walk  away  from  the  spot. 

"Go  on  now,  fool,  and  let  the  girl  you've  saved 
alone.  She's  all  right  now,  and  maybe  from  now 
on  fate  will  be  her  friend." 

i3e  walked  rapidly  away  and  disappeared  into 
the  night. 


After  Hilda  Muri vale's  hand  closed  over  the 
roll  of  bills  which  Barney  Branton  gave  her  she 
struggled  through  the  storm  and  entered  the 
hotel.     She  simply  looked  as  if  she  had  been  a 


DANGERS  OF  WORKING   GIRLS.  ^g 

long  time  in  the  rain  and  her  hair  was  wringing 

4 

wet,  while  her  dress  clung  in  a  mass  of  wet  rags 
about  her. 

''1  want  a  room  for  a  night,"  said  she,  and  all 
through  the  dark  night  she  wept  out  her  thank- 
fulness that  she  had  been  saved  from  a  coward's 
death.  It  all  looked  so  different  to  her ;  she  could 
not  appreciate  that  fate  had  saved  her  when  she 
had  wilfully  sent  herself  into  the  grave.  Then 
she  commenced  to  think  of  her  preserver,  and  sat 
up  in  bcil. 

^'His  eyes  follow  me,"  whispered  she.  "I  have 
never  seen  such  a  kindly  face.  I  suppose  he  is  a 
minister." 

Hilda  Murivale  made  the  common  mistake  of 
believing  that  any  man  with  a  good  face  must  be 
joined  to  the  church. 

"He  could  do  nothing  bad,"  cried  she;  "noth- 
ing, I  am  sure.  I  can  think  of  nothing  but  his 
eyes.  If  I  can  get  well  and  go  to  work  I  shall  try 
to  pay  him  back.  Think  of  one  hundred  dollars. 
It  seems  that  I  cannot  be  thankful  enough.  What 
a  lovely  man  he  was !" 

Then  she  lay  thinking  deeply,  and  brought  to 


Ig  DANGERS  OP  WORKING   GIRLS. 

her  mind  all  the  past.  She  remembered  her  dear 
father  taking  herself  and  mother  from  New  York 
and  going  on  a  commission  to  England.  He  had 
landed  in  that  new  country  amid  the  praises  of 
his  countrymen,  but  what  an  aAvful  ending!' 
Hilda  did  not  have  to  bring  her  mind  to  a  differ* 
ent  state  to  call  up  remembrances  which  made 
her  shudder  from  head  to  foot. 

"Poor  father,  you  are  dead,"  murmured  she, 
"and  your  little  girl  almost  followed  you ;  but  for 
the  kindness  of  a  good  stranger  I  should  not  have 
wanted  to  live." 

She  could  not  sleep.  The  thought  that  a  cer- 
tain villain  had  followed  her  from  India  and  was 
dogging  her  footsteps  made  her  hide  her  head 
upxler  the  covers. 

"I  don't  know  where  to  gOj"  sobbed  she.  "I 
want  to  get  honest  work.  I  would  love  to  take 
care  of  a  little  child.  That's  what  I  will  apply 
for,  and  maybe  he  will  not  think  of  me  in  the 
edacity  of  a  servant." 

For  a  little  while  she  slept  in  fitful  snatches. 

Her  eyes  would  fly  open  at  the  slightest  sound, 
and  her  poor  little  head  swam  around  as  she 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  27 

thought  of  her  experience  of  the  night  before. 
Then  again  into  her  mind  would  rush  the  thought 
of  her  pursuer. 

"Oh,  if  I  only  knew  where  to  go  and  where  to 
hide !    He  seems  to  be  always  everywhere." 

It  would  be  timely  to  say  that  this  girl  feared 
an  Indian  doctor,  who  was  a  firm  friend  of  her 
father  and  who  had  fallen  in  love  with  her,  and 
»he  dreaded  the  thought  of  ever  marrying  him, 
and  her  father  had  told  the  doctor  that,  while  he 
valued  his  friendship,  he  could  not  force  his  then 
motherless  girl  into  an  obnoxious  marriage. 

"You  see,"  Mr.  Murivale  had  said,  "that  Hilda 
is  young  and  unwilling  to  marry  you,  and  it  is 
her  will  not  to,  and  I  cannot  force  her  into  it." 

From  that  time  on  the  Indian  had  changed. 
She  felt  that- his  crafty  expression  meant  some- 
thing evil  to  her  father.  She  begged  her  parent 
to  be  careful  and  was  not  so  much  surprised  when 
one  morning  she  found  her  dear  father  dead  in 
his  bed. 

She  remembered  the  sorrow  of  her  IndiaiJ 
friend,  and  it  was  then  that  he  pressed  his  suit 
and  tried  to  capture  her,  but  with  the  strength  of 


X8  DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRIA 

a  young  lioness  she  escaped  and  soon  sailed  for 
IN ew  York  without  letting  any  one  know  where 
she  had  gone. 


DANGERS  OP  WORKINQ  GIRLS.  ig 


CHAPTER  II. 

In  a  house  on  Fifth  avenue  a  man  sat  reading 
in  a  beautiful  library.  He  seemed  to  be  interested 
in  his  book,  for  he  did  not  hear  the  door  open  nor 
see  a  lovely  woman  creep  up  behind  him  and 
cover  his  eyes  with  her  hands. 

"Do  you  know  who  this  is?"  laughed  she. 

"Of  course,  my  darling ;  my  beautiful  wife." 

"Yes,  it  is  she,''  replied  the  woman,  coming" 
around  and  sinking  at  his  feet;  "I  wanted  to  sur- 
prise you,  but  nothing  seems  to  do  that.  Sweet- 
heart, are  you  going  to  have  any  one  to  dinner 
to-night." 

"No,  I  think  not.  Why?  Do  you  want  me  to 
go  into  the  byways  and  the  highways  and  hurry 
them  in  so  that  you  might  entertain  them?" 

"No,  I  am  very  well  satisfied  to  be  here  alone 
with  you." 

The  rich  man  took  the  beautiful  face  in  hia 
hands  and  looked  deep  into  the  violet  eyes. 


20  DANGERS  OP  WORKIN®  GIRLS. 

"Karina/'  whispered  he,  cooing  over  the  name 
as  if  he  loved  its  sound,  "you  cannot  tell  how 
thankful  I  am  to  heaven  for  sending  you  to  me. 
It  is  my  one  constant  prayer  that  I  might  be  able 
to  return  the  comfort  to  you  in  the  way  of  beauti- 
ful things.'' 

"Ah,  Mathew,  I  had  never  known  happiness 
myself  until  I  married  you.  All  my  girlhood 
days  were  unhappy." 

"Let  me  see,"  said  Mr.  Dean,  "I  believe  you  told 
me  that  your  early  years  were  spent  in  India." 

"Yes,  among  a  class  of  people  that  I  hate.  The 
men  are  the  most  treacherous  in  the  world." 

"Your  first  husband,  he  was " 

"An  Indian  doctor,  whom  I  hated  with  all  my 
might,"  and  as  she  said  these  words  her  face  dark- 
ened and  instead  of  a  beautiful  smiling  woman 
she  looked  more  like  a  demon. 

"Well,  we  won't  talk  about  it,  love,"  whispered 
the  man.  "All  of  our  days  shall  be  spent  together 
and  you  will  never  know  another  want." 

"I  know  it,  Mathew,  and  I  shall  deserve  it; 
don't  you  worry.    What  did  you  want  to  see  me 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING-  GIRLS.  21 

this  evening  for?   You  said  you  had  something  so 
particular  to  tell  me." 

Mathew  Dean  looked  thoughtfully  into  the  fire, 

but  he  knew  not  how  to  open  a  certain  subject 

'  that  had  been  on  his  mind  since  the  day  before, 

being  brought  there  by  a  letter  which  had  come 

to  him  from  the  eastern  part  of  New  York  State. 

"Just  begin,  darling,"  said  the  woman  sooth- 
ingly.   "Have  I  been  spending  too  much  money?" 

"Oh,  no,"  cried  the  banker ;  "if  you  want  more 
money  come  to  me  and  don't  worry  about  finan- 
cial things.    They  are  the  least  of  our  troubles." 

"Then  I  cannot  imagine  what  it  can  be.  You 
see,  all  my  life  nothing  but  money  has  ever  been 
my  worry.  I  suppose  I  am  only  following  after 
old  ways.    But  tell  me,  dear." 

"Have  you  ever  heard  me  speak  of  a  brother  of 
mine  who  married  in  the  Far  West?  Well,  he  has 
died,  leaving  a  child,  a  daughter,  lame  and  home- 
less, and  she  was  sent  to  one  of  her  mother's  rela- 
tives, who  is  now  dead,  and  I  am  the  only  one  who 
f  can  give  her  a  home." 
**     Again  the  woman's  face  darkened,  but  she  did 


i22 


DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS. 


not  want  to  show  her  real  nature  to  the  man  sit- 
ting so  close  to  her. 

"And  has  she  written  you?" 

"Yes,  and  asked  to  come  here  to  live."  ^ 

"Then  I  suppose  there  is  nothing  else  to  do  hut 
to  allow  her  to  come.  But,  dearest,  if  I  did  not 
jump  at  the  plan  immediately  please  forgive  me^ 
for  I  did  not  want  our  quiet  times  broken  up.  You 
know  I  love  to  spend  my  evenings  with  you." 

"And  neither  shall  our  pleasant  times  be 
broken  up,  you  foolish  child.  I  simply  live  now 
to  come  home  to  you." 

"How  sweet,  darling,"  whispered  the  man's 
wife.  "I  will  willingly  consent  to  have  your  niece 
here  if  she  does  not  take  your  love  from  me." 

"That  no  one  could  ever  do,"  exclaimed  Dean. 

But  if  he  could  have  seen  his  wife  after  she 
reached  her  apartment  he  would  not  have 
thought  her  so  willing  to  have  the  poor  relative 
there.  She  clinched  her  hands  angrily  as  she 
mounted  the  stair  and  the  moment  the  door 
closed  she  broke  out  in  a  terrible  passion. 

"To  think  just  as  I  have  him  as  I  want  him, 
another  has  to  come  into  my  home  and  take  part 


DANGERS   OF  WORKHSTG  GIRLS.  23 

of  the  money  he  should  give  to  me.  Oh,  God,  what 
I  have  borne  in  this  world !  When  I  was  so  calmly 
telling  him  of  my  first  husband  in  India  I 
thought  I  should  scream.  Husband,  bah,  what 
do  I  know  of  a  husband !  I  never  had  one  before, 
but  only  a  man  that  I  worshipped  more  than  my 
life,  and  shamelessly  he  cast  me  off.  And  yet,  yet 
would  I  give  all  this  to  see  him  just  once  and  feel 
his  lips  upon  mine." 

She  looked  about  hastily  as  she  muttered  these 
words.  No  one  must  hear  her.  Then  again  her 
temper  got  the  better  of  her. 

"An  ugly  cripple,  a  girl  to  sneak  about  and 
listen !  Well,  I'll  see  that  she  gets  nothing,  abso- 
lutely nothing  that  I  can  keep  from  her." 

For  a  long  time  after  her  passionate  temper 
had  worn  off  she  lay  upon  her  bed  thinking  of  the 
past  and  weaving  in  her  mind  pleasures  for  the 
future. 

"Who  would  have  thought  that  I  could  have 
married  such  a  man,  rich,  generous,  almost  king- 
ly and  willing  to  give  me  the  world  were  it  at  his. 
command.  Karina  Dean,^  content  yourself  with 
your  lot." 


24  DANGERS   OF  WORKING  GIRLS. 

She  was  trying  to  be  satisfied  with  the  exist- 
ence that  once  she  craved,  trying  to  forget  the 
shadows  of  the  past,  out  of  which  loomed  the  face 
»f  a  man  handsome,  smiling,  devilish,  capable 
ouly  of  bringing  any  woman  he  might  love  to  a 
degradation  worse  than  death. 

"I  would  give  my  life,"  she  panted  a  little  later, 
"to  be  with  you,  Salsya,  if  only  for  a  moment.  I 
cannot  understand  why  you  ever  loved  another, 
but  you  tried  to  make  me  see  that  it  was  poverty 
that  kept  us  apart,  but  I  know  better.  Nothing 
but  the  waning  of  it  could  separate  such  passion 
as  ours." 

Then,  as  if  thinking  deeply,  she  was  quiet  for 
almost  an  hour.  She  arose  and  dressed,  looking 
more  like  an  angel  than  woman.  Her  face  was 
exceedingly  fair,  and  she  was  yet  too  young  to 
show  the  ravages  of  an  uncontrollable  passion 
mingled  witk  a  temper  which  would  brook  no 
interference. 

She  spent  a  quiet  evening  with  her  husband, 
only  once  mentioning  the  coming  of  his  niece. 

'TTou'll  try  to  be  a  mother  to  her,  Karina?" 


DANGERS   OF   WORKING   GIRLS.  25 

"Yes,  if  she  will  let  me,  but  I  have  not  yet  geea 
her.    She  might  not  take  a  fancy  to  me." 

She  was  smiling  as  she  said  this,  and  how  beau- 
tiful she  looked  to  her  husband. 

"Then  I  should  say  there  was  a  perverted  judg- 
ment in  that  young  lady,"  was  his  answer. 

"Oh,  that's  because  yoti  love  me,  Mathew,"  said 
she,  coming  up  from  behind  and  taking  his  head 
in  her  hands.  "She  might  argue  something  like 
this,  *now  if  he  had  not  married  this  woman,  I 
might  have  been  his  pet,'  do  you  see,  Mathew?" 

"Karina,  it  w^as  a  wise  God  that  said  that  a 
woman  should  be  her  husband's  all.  All,  you  are 
to  me,  and  always  shall  be.'' 


On  a  train  coming  from  upper  New  York  State 
a  young  lame  girl  sat  waiting  impatiently  for  the 
train  to  stop.  The  conductor  had  shouted  New 
York,  and  the  heart  of  the  girl  commenced  to 
beat.  She  was  coming  into  a  new  world,  a  new 
home,  and  would  the  occupants  love  her  as  she 
had  made  up  her  mind  to  love  them?    This  uncle 


2g  DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS. 

of  hers,  of  wh»om  she  had  heard  her  father  speak, 
would  he  take  her  in  his  arms  and  tell  her  how 
muci|  he  loved  her?-  And  she  had  heard  that  he 
had  lately  married,  and  maybe  his  wife  would, 
not  like  her,  not  care  to  have  her  about. 

"There  now,  Elsie,"  mused  she,  as  the  whistle 
gave  a  great  shriek,  "don't  be  a  little  fool.  Your 
uncle  is  your  own  flesh  and  blood.  Surely  Ke 
would  not  ask  you  to  come  to  him  if  he  did  not 
want  you." 

She  hesitated  a  moment  after  the  trainmen 
helped  her  from  the  step,  and  then  she  saw  a 
handsome  man  hurrying  toward  her.  The  strik- 
ing likeness  to  her  father  brought  the  tears  to  her 
eyes. 

"You  are  my  uncle,"  gasped  she,  holding  out 
her  hands.  And  who  could  have  helped  loving 
her,  the  sweet  little  creature,  all  eyes  and  soul  ? 

"I  am  your  Uncle  Mathew,  and  welcome  you  to 
our  home.    My  wife  is  waiting  for  you." 

Elsie  sighed  as  she  heard  these  words,  and  she/ 
hoped  this  beautiful  woman,  of  whose  very  pic- 
ture she  had  stood  in  awe,  would  take  her  com- 
pletely to  her  heart  as  her  uncle  had  done.    She 


DANGERS   OF  WORKING   GIRLS.  07 

would  be  such  a  good  girl  and  not  make  them  any 
trouble. 

"Your  aunt  is  making  arrangements  for  you  to 
have  a  companion,  some  other  young  girl,  who 
will  love  you  and  with  whom  you  can  associate. 
Do  you  think  you  will  like  that?" 

"I  am  sure  I  shall,"  answered  the  girl;  "oh, 
very  sure.  Then  I  shall  not  be  a  burden  upon  you 
and  aunt." 

The  home-coming  was  worse  even  than  Elsie 
had  imagined.  She  was  afraid  of  the  luminous 
eyes,  afraid  to  lift  her  sweet  face  for  a  kiss,  and 
neither  did  she  until  the  woman  placed  her  finger 
under  the  girPs  chin  and  raised  it  to  her. 

"So  you  are  going  to  live  with  us.  Then  we 
must  be  good  friends." 

It  was  then  she  received  Karina's  kiss,  and  it 
felt  as  if  it  burned  her  face. 

"I  am  going  to  bring  a  girl  here  for  you  whom 
,  you  will  love.    She  is  not  a  New  Yorker  by  cus- 
tom  and  neither  are   you,  so  you  can    become,; 
acquainted  with  the  city  together."  * 

Elsie  laid  her  head  down  upon  the  first  resting 
place  she  could  find  after  she  got  to  her  room. 


28  DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS. 

She  wept  passionately  for  a  few  moments,  giving 
way  to  her  feelings  as  if  her  happiness  depended 
upon  it. 

"She  won't  love  me/^  sobbed  she;  "oh,  I  have 
never  seen  such  uncomfortable  eyes.  I  could  not 
love  her  either.  But  this  young  girl  and  uncle — 
oh,  I  shall  make  myself  happy  after  all." 


In  another  poorer  room  another  young  girl  sat 
with  her  face  in  her  hands. 

"Now  I  believe  my  luck  has  changed;  I  know 
that  I  am  going  to  have  a  home  which  will  be 
better  than  any  I  have  ever  had — and  then  I  shall 
be  free  from  him." 

She  laid  great  stress  upon  those  last  wordsfc 
She  looked  out  of  the  window  into  the  crowded 
street,  wondering  if  this  man  who  was  pursuing 
her  was  among  the  number  below. 

"This  letter  says  for  a  companion  for  a  young 
girl.  Oh,  how  I  hope  she  will  be  sweet  and  one 
that  I  can  love.  If  so,  she  won't  complain  of  the 
affection  I  shall  show  her." 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  ^ 

The  next  morning  this  same  girl,  with  a  veil 
closely  tied  over  a  beautiful  face,  stole  out  and 
called  at  a  residence  on  Fifth  avenue.  She  was 
shown  into  a  drawing  room,  which,  though  beau- 
tiful, was  no  more  gorgeous  than  others  she  had 
lived  in  herself,  and  the  lady  who  s?wept  into  the 
room  could  not  but  marvel  at  the  supreme  com- 
posure and  grace  of  the  girl  who  had  come  to  ask 
for  the  position  which  had  been  spoken  of  in  her 
letter. 

*^ou  wish  to  act  as  a  companion,"  said  the 
woman,  hardening  a  little,  chiefly  because  the 
new-comer  was  more  beautiful  than  herself,  and 
again  because  she  did  not  like  to  see  such  man- 
ners with  a  servant.  "I  should  not  think  you 
would  like  to  take  a  position  like  this;  it  is 
menial  in  a  way," 

The  girl  bent  her  eyes  upon  the  speaker. 

"Is  it?"  said  she,  slowly  and  more  calmly  than 
before.  "I  did  not  know ;  if  my  father' had  lived  I 
should  never  have  had  to  work,  but  I  shall  be  glad 
to  get  this  position." 

At  this  moment  a  lame  girl  hobbled  into  the 


30  DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS. 

room.    The  lady  was  just  asking  the  other  one  her 
name. 

"Hilda  Murivale,"  was  the  answer, 

"And  you  are  from " 

The  terrified  look  which  this  question  had 
raised  in  the  brown  eyes  was  noticed  by  the 
woman. 

"I — I — was  born  in  New  York  State,  but  left 
when  I  was  very  young." 

"And  for  what  part  of  the  country?" 

Again  the  eyes  deepened  in  shade. 

"The  Far  East,"  was  the  answer. 

The  words  were  accompanied  by  such  dignity 
that  the  woman  refrained  from  saying  more. 

"Elsie,"  said  she  after  a  little  hesitation,  "come 
here.  Do  you  think  you  could  love  this  young 
lady  if  I  take  her  as  your  companion?" 

The  two  girls  looked  into  each  other^s  eyes,  and 
each  read  a  beautiful  something  there  which  ap* 
pealed  to  the  soul  of  the  other.  Hilda  Murivale 
arose  from  her  chair,  and  Elsie  hobbled  closer  to 
her.  They  took  each  other's  hands  and  but  of  the 
fullness  of  two  loving  hearts  smiled  broadly. 

"Oh,  I  am  sure,  auntie,  dear,"  began  Elsie,  try- 


DANGERS   OF  WORKING  GIRLS.  gj; 

ing  all  of  a  sudden  to  be  loving,  "that  I  should 
like  to  have  Miss  Murivale  with  me  if  you  give 
jour  consent,  and  I  think  I  should  love  her." 
y  "Then  she  shall  stay,"  said  Mrs.  Dean,  and 
glad  was  she  of  the  fact  that  the  lame  girl  was 
now  off  her  hands. 

It  did  not  take  Hilda  long  to  find  out  the  con- 
ditions of  the  rich  man's  home  nor  see  that  the 
beautiful  mistress  hated  the  little  niece,  and  be- 
cause of  this  she  tried  the  harder  to  make  Elsie's 
lot  an  light  as  she  could. 

Her  own  last  few  months  had  been  so  fearful 
and  had  aged  her  much,  but  that  was  no  reason 
why  the  lame  girl  should  not  be  happy,  and  in 
?p:te  of  the  sorrow  she  nursed  in  her  breast  and 
the  thought  that  often  brought  her  to  tears,  she 
learned  to  be  happy  and  to  make  another  girl  as 
happy  as  herself. 

The  only  thing  that  worried  her  was  the 
thought  that  some  day  she  might  meet  this  tor- 
mentor of  hers  and  he  would  make  her  accompany 
him  when  she  did  not  want  to  go. 

"But  there  is  certainly  justice  in  such  a  city 


32  DANGERS   OP  WORKING  GIRLS. 

as  this,"  said  she  to  herself  one  morning  when 
Elsie  had  asked  her  to  walk  in  the  park. 

These  walks  brought  the  blood  to  her  cheek, 
only  to  send  it  out  again  when  she  thought  that 
maybe  she  might  meet  her  father's  murderer  face 
to  face.  But  each  day  they  would  return  home 
without  accident,  and  Hilda  grew  to  be  less 
afraid. 

One  evening  when  the  two  girls  were  alone  in 
the  house,  and  Elsie  was  resting  her  poor  lame 
foot  after  a  long  walk,  she  said  to  Hilda : 

"Have  you  ever  been  in  love?" 

The  question,  so  rashly  asked,  brought  a  blush 
to  Hilda's  face. 

"I  was  in  love  with  my  father,  but  he  is  dead," 
said  she. 

"Oh,  I'm  sorry  I  asked,"  soothed  Elsie;  "I 
meant  have  you  ever  been  in  love  with  a  very  nice 
young  man?" 

"No,  I  have  met  but  one  man  whom  I  could 
love,  and  I  only  saw  him  once." 

"Oh,  that's  too  bad.  Won't  you  tell  me  about 
it,  or  is  it  a  secret?" 


DANGERS   OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  35 

"No,  El«ie,  no  secret,"  replied  Hilda,  "and  if 
you  would  like  me  to  I  will  tell  you.  Then  listen." 

Starting  at  the  beginning,  Hilda  told  Elsie  of 
her  coining  to  New  York,  dwelling  a  little  while 
upon  the  fact  that  she  was  driven  from  her  home^ 
by  the  persecutions  of  a  man  whom  she  had  since 
seen  in  the  city,  and  it  took  only  a  moment  to 
trring  the  bright  tears  to  the  tender  eyes  of  Elsie 
when  she  heard  about  the  river,  so  dark  and  lone- 
ly and  about  the  young  man  who  had  risked  his 
own  life  to  save  her  companion's. 

"Now  do  you  think  you  will  ever  see  him 
again?"  asked  she,  smiling  through  her  tears. 
g7  "Oh,  I  am  not  sure,  but  I  hope  so,  for  I  was  in 
10  condition  to  thank  him  properly  for  what  he 
did  for  me,  and  then,  too,  he  gave  me  money  and 
I  want  to  return  it  to  him.  Oh,  Elsie,  I  have  never 
seen  such  eyes  in  any  man's  head." 

"Oh,"  cried  Elsie  excitedly,  "I  do  hope  that  you 
will  see  him  again.  Think  of  it,  it  might  end  in  a 
romance." 

"No  it  won't,  for  I  feel  it  in  my  bones  that  he 
is  married." 

"Oh,  do  you?"  groaned  Elsie,  this  time  bring- 


34  DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS. 

ing  out  the  sighs  one  aftier  another.    "Isn't  that 
awful?    I  was  in  hopes  that  he  would  love  you 
and  you  him — and,  oh,  what  a  lovely  story  that 
,  jWould  make !" 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  35 


CHAPTER  III. 

Hilda  Murivalb  was  now  happy,  and  she  felt 
that  at  last  she  was  safe  and  not  being  followed. 
Probably  the  man  who  had  persecuted  her  so  long 
had  grown  tired  and  returned  to  his  own  country. 
Her  life  had  settled  into  pleasant  places.  She  had 
already  saved  almost  enough  money  to  pay  back 
the  royal  gentleman  who  had  given  her  the  timely 
aid  upon  the  pier. 

One  afternoon  she  was  out  riding  with  Elsie 
when  she  spied  a  funny  figure  hurrying  along. 

As  if  by  chance  he  got  directly  in  front  of  the 
carriage,  frightening  the  horses  so  that  they 
reared  upon  their  haunches  threateningly.  But 
after  making  the  trouble  he  settled  it,  fop  he 
grasped  the  horses'  bits  tightly  in  his  hands. 

"Now,  don't  be  a-hopping  about  like  that,  old 
boys,"  shouted  he  in  his  funny  German,  and  the 
girls,  feeling  that  everything  was  safe,  leaned 
over  and  thanked  him. 


36 


DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS. 


"You  come  to  this  address  to-night,"  said  the 
lame  girl,  "and  let  my  uncle  thank  yon  properly, 
for  I  know  he  will  be  very  grateful  to  you." 

"Wasn't  he  funny?"  said  Hilda  as  they  climbed  ^ 
the  stairs  slowly.  "I  thought  he  was  going  to  be^ 
run  over.    He  certainly  is  a  hero." 

And  that  German,  the  object  of  the  girPs  ad- 
miration, was  talking  then  at  that  moment  rap- 
idly. 

"You  bet,  Mr.  Branton,  that  I  managed  it. 
Those  girls  were  frightened  to  death." 

"Well,  well?"  impatiently  asked  Branton. 

"And  they  told  me  to  come  to  the  house  to- 
night and  see  their  uncle  and  he  would  properly 
thank  me.  All  I  want  is  a  chance  to  ask  for  a 
good  job." 

"Yes,  yes,  that's  what  you  want  to  do,"  cried 
the  other.  "Ah,  this  is  the  place  I  have  long^ 
sought  entrance  to.  They  are  rich,  Isidore,  very 
rich." 

"I  know,  and  what  we  want  is  some  of  the 
money;  is  that  it,  boss?" 

"Aye,  aye,  some  of  their  money.    What  righ 
have  these  rich  to  so  much  and  the  poor  to  »e 


.1 


DANGBRS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS. 


37 


little?  I  am  called  the  king  of  the  cracksmen, 
Izy,  but  I  have  never  yet  taken  a  cent  from  a  poor 
man,  nor  have  I  taken  a  human  life.'* 

"I  know  that,  old  man,  but  what  made  you  get 
into  such  work?   A  man  with  your  face  and  your 

manners,  a  professional " 

"Thief,  that's  right,  Isidore;  that's  right,  say 
I  the  word.    It  fits  the  man,  even  if  it  does  hurt, 
I  and  I'm  going  to  be  the  same  thing  until  I  die."  . 
"Would  you  keep  it  up,  Barney,  if  you  were  to 
marry?" 

"I  shall  never  marry  now,  Izy,"  was  the  an- 
swer ;  "I  only  once  saw  a  woman  I  could  love,  and 
she  is  gone,  so  there  is  no  use  of  thinking  of  an- 
other.   Oh,  Izy,  you  never  saw  such  eyes." 

"Well,  oh  me,  my,"  gasped  the  German,  "I 
never  thought  you  were  in  love." 
"  "Not  exactly  in  love,  Izy,"  laughed  Branton, 
'*but  the  fire  is  smoldering;  if  I  could  see  her 
again  I  think  I  should  fall  directly  in  love  with 
her." 

"And  then  your  business " 

"Ah  then ;  well,  Izy,  we  won't  talk  about  that;  I 
know  that  she  will  be  my  guiding  star,  even  in 


^g  !>ANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS. 

this  precarious  trade,  so  I  might  as  well  love  her 
as  such.  You  know,  Izy,"  and  here  Branton 
stopped  and  looked  at  the  other;  "do  you  know 
I've  often  thought  that  I  would  throw  it  all  to 
the  winds  if  I  could  find  a  woman  who  would  love 
me  devotedly?" 

"They  don't  none  of  them  do  it,"  ventured  Izy, 
letting  the  smoke  from  a  rank  pipe  filter  up 
through  his  companion's  hair  and  clothes  until 
he  gasped : 

"For  heaven's  sake,  Izy,  don't  smoke  on  me ;  if 
you  must,  here  take  this  cigar." 

Evidently  this  was  what  the  other  wanted,  fior 
he  snatched  the  tobacco  in  his  hands  and  immedi- 
ately lighted  it. 

"Now  then  to  business ;  you  go  to-night  to  the 
Dean  mansion,  and  when  the  old  man  asks  you 
what  you  want  you  say  a  job.  Anything  will  do, 
but  butler  preferably." 

"I  see,  I  will  do  whatever  you  require." 

"Then  I  shall  in  some  way  get  in  with  Mr, 
Dean.  You  are  not  to  know  me  when  I  come  to 
the  house." 


DANGERS   OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  39? 

"Of  course  not,  servants  do  not  speaCk  to  the 
guests  of  rich  men;  he,  he,  ha,  ha." 

"Don't  be  a  fool,  Izy,"  said  the  other  with  dig- 
nity. "There  is  nothing  in  me  that  is  above  you. 
Now,  remember,  try  and  get  in  that  house  and 
the  graft  will  be  good." 

"I  will,  and  now  good-bye." 


That  night  Mathew  Dean  was  interested  with 
the  rehearsal  of  the  afternoon's  experience. 

"I  told  him  to  come  and  let  you  thank  him, 
uncle  dear,"  said  Elsie  blushing,  "for  I  believe  he 
needs  help." 

"That  was  not  necessary,  Elsie,"  said  Mrs. 
Dean.  "You  might  have  given  the  man  ten  dol* 
lars.  But  never  mind  if  he  does  come  I  will  see 
him  and  give  It  to  him.  It  was  kind  of  him  to  do 
such  a  deed,  the  horses  might  have  been  killed." 

Mr.  Dean  turned  to  his  wife,  eyeing  her  criti- 
cally. She  was  so  different  since  Elsie  had  come 
into  the  house,  and  not  the  same  woman  at  all. 

"Why,  my  dear,"  said  he  gently,  "it  might  have 


40  DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS.  ^ 

been  much  worse  than  that  had  the  "girls  beea 
hurt.    The  horses  amount  to  nothing." 

The  beautiful  face  flushed  and  a  certain  fire 
leaped  into  the  dark  eyes. 

"To  be  sure,"  said  she,  "I  know  that,  but  I  was 
thinking  chiefly  of  the  horses  because  you  were  so 
fond  of  them." 

"But  not  fond  of  them  as  of  Elsie,"  gravely  an- 
swered her  husband. 

There  was  a  strained  silence  for  a  little  while, 
the  woman  too  angry  to  say  much,  while  Hilda 
was  timidly  glancing  now  and  then  at  her  little 
friend. 

"Let's  go  upstairs,"  whispered  Elsie,  not  so  dis- 
creet as  Hilda,  but  before  either  had  an  oppor- 
tunity to  answer  a  loud  peal  at  the  bell  brought 
them  all  to  their  feet. 

"There  he  is  now,"  excitedly  shouted  Elsie. 

"I  will  go,  my  dear,"  frigidly  replied  the  aunt. 

"But  let  me  speak  to  him,  Karina,"  said  her 
husband,  looking  hard  into  the  now  flashing  eyes. 

"Very  well  then,  you  may  answer  the  ring 
yourself.  He  will  probably  ask  the  butler  for 
you." 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  ^J] 

She  sank  gracefully  into  a  chair  and  turned 
her  face  toward  the  fire.  She  did  not  speak  until 
she  heard  voices  in  the  hall. 
>  "It  wa'n't  much,  sir,"  Hilda  heard  the  German 
f  say.  "The  little  one  told  me  to  come,  and  as  I 
was  out  of  work  I  thought  maybe  you  had  some- 
thing for  me  to  do.    I  would  do  anything  honest.'' 

By  this  time  they  were  inside  the  door,  the  rich 
man  and  the  German  tramp,  or  at  least  so 
thought  the  broker's  wife  when  she  saw  the 
stranger  enter  the  door. 

He  was  short,  fat  and  almost  under-sized.  His 
red  hair  stood  up  in  little  stiff  curls,  which  Hilda 
mentally  decided  had  been  wound  over  a  curling 
iron. 

"Well,  I  don't  know  just  now  that  I  have  any 
work  for  you.   What  do  you  think,  my  dear?" 

He  had  turned  to  his  wife  and  was  asking  the 
question. 

Now  that  he  had  deigned  to  ask  her  and  over- 
look his  niece,  she  would  answer. 

"I  have  thought  that  Vance  ought  to  have  a 
helper  for  a  long  time,"  said  she,  "but  do  as  you 
please,  my  dear." 


42  DANGBRS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS. 

The  magnificent  air  in  which  she  said  these 
words  brought  a  grunt  from  the  German. 

"I  hope  I  won't  have  to  work  fer  her,"  thought 
the  man.  "Oh,  won't  it  be  the  devil  a-walking 
around  to  her  music,  but  I  must  take  it  if  th^ 
offer  iV 

**Thcn,  my  man,"  said  the  rich  broker,  "you 
may  stay  if  you  will  bring  me  a  letter  from  some 
prominent  man  who  will  recommend  you." 

Isy's  eyes  snapped. 

He  knew  that  Branton  would  write  a  letter  in 
his  elegant  handwriting  that  would  make  the 
broker  open  his  eyes.  He  would  ask  him  to  send ' 
it  the  next  day. 

So,  accordingly,  when  Mr.  Dean  in  two  days'^ 
time  received  a  letter  stating  that  Isidore  Cohen 
was  the  most  capable  help  that  had  been  in  the 
writer's  household  for  many  months  and  always 
proved  the  best  of  help,  Mr.  Dean  hesitated  no 
more  and  sent  for  Isidore,  and  soon  he  was  a 
member  of  the  household. 

Immediately  he  took  a  great  fancy  to  Hilda, 
and  one  evening  when  he  was  talking  to  Branton  i 
in  their  private  room  he  said : 


DANGERS   OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  43 

"You  ought  to  see  that  girl  who  is  there  as  a 
companion  to  Dean's  niece.  Talk  of  eyes !  Why, 
man,  she  even  takes  poor  Izy's  heart  out  of  his 
body,    i  wish  you  could  see  her," 

"I  wish  so,  too,"  thoughtfully  answered  Bran- 
ton,  and  he  thought  it  strange  that  he  should  im- 
mediately  get  an  odor  of  the  river  and  shudder 
as  he.thought  of  a  beautiful  girl  who  had  plunged 
into  it  that  dark  night. 

"But  I  shall  never  see  her,  Izy,  for  when  I 
visit  that  house  I  shall  go  in  the  dead  of  night, 
and  that's  all  there  is  to  it.  Now,  tell  me  how 
the  house  is  laid  out." 

This  did  not  take  long  and  soon  the  crafty  fin- 
gers of  Branton  had  a  plan  made  of  the  Dean  resi- 
dence. 

He  and  Izy  parted  about  nine  o'clock,  and 
Branton  took  his  way  to  the  uptown  club.  There 
was  a  certain  mystery  about  him  that  made  all 
men  like  him.  He  hurried  along  trying  to  keep 
the  winter  wind  from  his  face,  and  without  look- 
ing up  he  crossed  the  road  and  ran  into  a  young 
fellow  who  struggled  against  the  blow  impati- 
ently. 


44  DAN©ttRS  OP  WORKING  QIRLS. 

"I'm  sure  I  beg  your  pardon,  old  chap/^  cried 
B^anton.  ^^hj,  on  my  life,  Kane,  is  that  you? 
This  is  a  surprise.  You  don't  mean  to  say  that 
you  live  in  New  York  city?" 
/  *rBranton,  could  anything  be  nwre  opportune? 
Why,  man,  I've  often  wondered  where  you  were, 
and  how  life  was  dealing  with  you.  Now  let  me 
tell  you  something.  Come  with  me  to  my  club 
and  let's  talk  over  old  days." 

"So  I  will  cheerfully,"  replied  Branton,  "for 
I'm  not  in  the  best  of  spirits  just  at  present." 

Together  they  went  to  the  magnific^it  stone 
building,  and  Kane  O'Hara  had  but  to  show  h!» 
card  to  enter. 

They  had  seated  themselves  closely  together  in 
a  corner  and  were  going  over  their  olden  days 
when  Branton  asked : 

"By  the  way,  what  are  you  doing  nowadays?" 

"Why,  I  am  the  best  detective  or  so-called  in 
New  York.  I  brought  to  justice  those  robb^*s 
who  took  the  money  from  the  national  bank." 

Branton  started  and  lifted  his  eyes  question- 
iugly. 

"You  don't  believe  that?"  asked  the  other 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  45 

laughing,  "but  nevertheless  it  is  so.  You  don't 
know  what  it  means  to  be  famous,  do  you,  old 
man?  Why,  the  morning  after,  you  should  have 
seen  the  papers.  How  little  we  know  when  we 
are  in  our  school  days  what  we  are  coming  to  V^ 

"True,"  commented  Branton. 

How  the  thoughts  were  running  through  his 
mind !  How  incongruous  it  seemed  to  him  to  be 
here  talking  to  the  best  detective  in  New  York^ 
he,  the  king  of  cracksmen !  He  had  beea  so-called 
by  Izy  because  no  one  had  ever  succeeded  in  find- 
ing him  yet. 

At  last  he  looked  up  and  said : 

"Have  you  ever  been  unable  to  catch  any  one  of 
the  experts?" 

O'Hara  thought  for  a  moment  and  then  said : 

"Yes,  there  is  one  fellow  whom  I  would  like  to 
get  my  hands  upon.  We  call  him  at  the  office, 
*The  King  of  the  Cracksmen.'  " 

O'Hara  bent  over  and  looked  into  Branton's 
eyes.  The  conscience  of  the  cracksman  twinged 
in  such  a  way  that  he  thought  O'Hara  was  eyeing^ 
him  accusingly. 

"Then,"  said  he,  "there  is  one  you  cannot  find." 


46  DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS. 

He  had  straightened  himself  up  so  as  not  to 
appear  guilty. 

"Yes,"  replied  O'Hara,  "but  some  of  these  days 
.  I  shall  get  my  fingers  upon  him  and  then  I  shall 
show  no  mercy." 

"I  believe,"  commented  Branton,  now  thor- 
oughly in  possession  of  his  nerve,  "I  believe  he 
always  attacks  the  rich,  does  he  not?" 

"Yes,  that  is  one  peculiarity ;  never  has  he  been 
known  to  rob  a  man  upon  the  street,  but  singles 
out  the  richest  men  in  the  country  and  gets  their 
valuables  and  ready  cash,  but  he  will  make  a 
strike  some  day  that  will  give  me  a  chance  and  I 
will  be  right  there,  Branton,  right  there." 

The  enthusiasm  of  the  moment  had  brought 
both  men  to  their  feet.  Branton  closed  his  eyes 
for  an  instant,  and  then  said : 

"And  I  will  help  you  catch  him,  O^Hara,  if — if 
I  happen  to  be  around." 

"There's  no  danger  of  that,  Branton,"  laughed 
the  detective  "Now  tell  me  what  occupation  you 
*  follow." 

Again  Branton  blew  the  smoke  from  his  cigar. 
He  hardly  knew  what  to  say. 


DANGERS   OP  WORKING  GIRI^.  47 

**My  uncle,  you  see,"  said  he,  looking  stpaig^t 
at  O'Hara,  "left  me  a  fortune,  and  then  I  try  my 
hand  sometimes  at — well,  at  law.  I  like  to  see  its 
workings." 

"Yes,  I  remember,"  answered  Kane,  "that  you 
always  were  nimble  with  your  tongue." 

There  was  something  of  the  daring  in  Bran  ton, 
which  came  out  plainly  in  his  answer, 

"I  have  developed  more  of  a  nimbleness  in  my 
fingers,"  said  he,  "since  you  knew  me,  O'Hara." 

"What,  in  weaving  baskets  or  the  like,  or  hold- 
ing wool  for  the  ladies  to  knit?  Do  you  dance  at- 
tendance upon  the  sweet  creatures  as  much  aa 
ever?" 

Instantly  there  floated  before  the  young  man';? 
mind  the  river  and  the  girl  standing  beside  it,  and 
with  a  shudder  he  remembered  how  she  plunged 
through  the  opening  in  the  pier  and  the  thud  of 
her  rapid  fall  was  with  him  still. 

**I  do  not  care  especially  for  them  as  a  sex," 
said  Branton;  "maybe  because  I  have  not  been 
with  them  enough,  but  I  know  one  girl  whom  I 
could  love  were  I  able  to  find  her,  but  I  fear  that 
will  be  never." 


'48  DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS. 

O'Hara  waited  in  vain  for  i^e  recital  of  hia 
friend's  loye  affair,  but  Branton  only  puffed  on, 
with  no  idea  of  telling  it. 

"Is  she  near  so  that  you  could  see  her  were  it 
permitted?" 

"No." 

"Then  where  did  you  first  get  acquainted  with 
herr 

"I  met  her  one  cold  night,  and  happened  to  do 
her  a  service.  I  am  too  modest  to  explain  what, 
but  I  never  saw  her  again." 

"Oh,  a  case  of  knight  errant,"  laughed  the  de- 
tective. "What  a  romance  it  would  be  if  you 
should  meet  her  sometime.  Think  you  not,  old 
man  ?   Have  patience.    Every  dog  has  his  day." 

"So  I  think,"  replied  Branton,  and  then  again 
their  thoughts  went  to  their  school  days. 

"You  belong  here  to  this  club  as  a  member ?'* 
asked  Branton  later. 

^Yes,  have  for  several  years.  I  know  there  is 
none  other  as  good  in  the  city." 

"I  find  the  New  York  Athletic  the  best  Tve 
found,"  explained  Branton.    "But  everyone  to 


DANGERS   OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  49 

4is  taste.    This  is  more  expensive,  I  should  think, 
U  keep  up." 

"The  most  costly  in  town,"  replied  O'Hara. 
"Why,  we  have  at  least  four  hundred  men  who 
can  write  seven  figures  in  their  fortunes." 

"Impossible,"  ejaculated  Branton.  "Why,  that 
means  that  you  have  four  hundred  millionaires 
here?" 

"Exactly." 

"A  nice  place  to  know,"  muttered  Branton, 
and  then  to  himself  he  added,  "for  my  business." 

But  the  detective  did  not  hear,  for  he  was  silent 
and  went  on  smoking. 

"There,"  said  he  at  last,  "do  you  see  that  man 
walking  there?  He  is  a  great  oil  merchant,  con- 
nected with  the  Standard  Oil.  The  one  following 
him  is  a  stock  broker  in  Wall  Street,  a  regular 
wizard  in  winning  money."  And  then  as  an 
elderly  benevolent  looking  gentleman  came  to- 
ward them,  O^Hara  said  in  a  whisper,  "here 
comes  a  man  to  whom  I  will  introduce  you.  I  am 
on  visiting  terms  with  his  family." 

As  he  said  these  words  the  gentleman  saw  the 


1^  DANGERS  OF  WORKING  OIRL& 

<(iEsteetiye  and  his  friend  and,  bowing  and  smiling 
came  their  way. 

^*Mr,  Dean,"  said  O'Hara,  "this  is  my  friend, 
^  Mr,  Bran  ton.    Mr.  Branton,  this  is  Mr.  Mathew 
Dean.*' 


DANGEHS  OF   WORKING  GIRLS.  gj 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Could  anything  have  been  more  providential 
than  the  meeting  of  Mathew  Dean?  Bran  ton  al- 
ways gave  thanks  to  heaven  when  he  made  a  big 
haul  because  he  reasoned  that  a  wise  providence 
could  not  countenance  that  one  should  have  all 
and  another  nothing,  and  that  it  must  be  by  some 
higher  power  that  he  was  enabled  to  filch  money 
by  the  thousands  and  take  it  away  without  de- 
tection. He  rose  to  his  feet  as  O'Hara  introduced 
him  and  looked  keenly  at  the  man  before  him. 
He  saw  a  good  face,  behind  which  a  true  heart 
was  beating,  and  for  a  moment  his  conscience 
smote  him.  It  always  hurt  Branton  more  or  less 
to  be  harsh  to  some  one  whom  he  thought  good, 
but  the  die  was  cast.  Izy  was  at  the  residence, 
and  he  w^ould  have  to  do  his  part. 

With  this  thought  in  his  mind,  he  grasped  the 
hand  extended  to  him. 


52  BANGBJRS  OP  WORKING  QIRLa 

"Am  more  than  pleased  to  meet  you/'  said  he, 
pondering  upon  the  advisability  of  speaking  of 
Izy,  and  then  he  said  to  himself : 

"I'll  keep  if  mum,  and  if  it  comes  out  I  can  g 
simply  say  I  had  forgotten.'^  ^^ 

There  was  some  light  talk  betwewi  Branton, 
O'Hara  and  Dean,  and  when  the  young  burglar 
left  the  club  he  had  an  invitation  to  go  to  the 
home  of  the  millionaire. 

It  was  with  a  hope  that  he  could  bring  the  time 
of  the  robbery  to  a  climax  that  he  sent  for  Izy  and 
told  of  his  good  fortune. 

"I  shall  come  there  this  evening  to  call,"  said 
the  young  man,  "and  if  it  is  possible  then  the  deed 
shall  be  done  with  despatch.  Now  then,  Izy,  tell 
me,  does  the  old  man  leave  much  money  in  his 
safe?" 

"Does  he  leave  much?"  cried  Izy.  "Well,  you 
don't  need  no  more  than  he  has  often  there.  Why, 
man,  I've  seen  him  take  a  clean  ten  thousand  out 
of  his  pocket  and  put  it  in  that  safe." 

"And  the  combination ^"  ; 

^^Oh,  I'll  bring  the  combination  to  you  anjr, 
time."  i 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  53^ 

After  Izy  left  Branton  the  young  man  sat  there 
a  long  time  thinking.  He  wondered  what  his  end 
would  be,  and  there  was  a  sickening  thought  in 
his  heart  when  a  pair  of  appealing  eyes  flashed 
into  his  mind. 

"If  I  knew  where  s^  was,"  whispered  he,  "I 
would  throw  it  all  to  the  winds,  and  no  more  ot 
this  life  for  me,''  and  then  another  thought 
seemed  to  penetrate  his  brain : 

"What  if  she  were  married?" 

"No,  I  don't  believe  it,"  he  replied  to  his  beat- 
ing heart,  "for  if  she  were  then  why  should  she 
have  been  willing  to  jump  from  the  pier  if  any  one 
in  all  the  world  loved  her?" 


In  another  part  of  the  city  two  men  w^e  sit- 
ting in  an  office  together;  one  we  remember  well 
as  the  broker  Dean,  and  his  good  face  was  wreath- 
ed in  smiles.  The  other  was  a  large  dark  man, 
with  a  black  beard  neatly  trimmed  in  French 
style.  His  dark  crafty  looking  eyes  glanced  un- 
easily around,  as  if  he  had  been  in  the  habit  of 
fearing  for  something. 


54  DANGERS  OF  WORKING  OIRLfl. 

"Yon  have  no  idea  how  glad  I  am  to  see  you^, 
Salsja,"  said  the  millionaire;  "it  is  years  since  I 
have  heard  from  my  dear  friend,  Wallace.  He 
sent  me  this  letter.  When  did  you  sail  from 
India?" 

The  other  wriggled  in  his  chair,  and  he  knew 
not  what  to  answer,  for  he  wished  the  man  to 
think  that  he  had  just  arrived. 

"But  a  short  time,"  replied  he  evasively. 

"And  welcome  you  are,"  cried  the  kind-hearted 
broker. 

"Such  a  welcome  I  shall  never  forget,"  said 
Pr.  Salsya,  "and  if  there  is  anything  I  can  do  in 
return  I  shall  be  most  happy." 

"Then  we  will  expect  you  to  our  home,"  went 
on  the  broker,  "to  dinner  to-night.  Remember,  I 
am  going  to  introduce  youlto  the  most  beautiful 
w  Oman  in  all  New  York." 

"Ah,  your  wife?"  asked  the  doctor,  with  spark- 
ling  eyes. 

"Yes,  my  own  dear  wife.  Strange,  she  lived  in 
your  country  for  some  years,  but  the  territory  is 
large,  and  there  is  no  possibility  that  you  might 
have  met." 


DANGERS   OF  WORKING  GIRLS.  5g; 

"Most  probably  not/'  replied  Salsya  as  he  arose 
to  go. 

There  was  a  firm  grip  of  hands  and  the  two 
separated.  The  one  called  Dr.  Salsya  walked 
hastily  from  the  Wall  street  district.  He  did  not 
hesitate  long,  for  he  knew  just  the  way  to  go* 
Taking  the  car  at  the  corner  he  transferred  Into 
the  Chinese  quarter.  Then  on  Pell  street  he 
stopped.  And  at  the  number  forty-four  he  waited. 

Suddenly  he  gave  two  or  three  short  knocks 
and  the  door  flew  open.  A  Chinaman  gave  Mmt 
entrance. 

"Is  Charlie  back?''  he  asked  roughly. 

The  Mongolian  shook  his  head. 

"Ain't  here,"  said  he. 

"And  has  he  brought  any  girls  in  heref^ 

"Not  this  morning." 

"Then,  what  under  heavens  has  the  fool  hems^ 
doing?  He's  been  out  three  days,  and  only  one^ 
and  she  none  too  pretty." 

"Well,  I  don't  know  not'in'  'bout  it,'*  gruntecl 
tiie  Chinaman. 

At  this  juncture  the  door  ox)ened  and  a  sailor 


50  DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS. 

dressed   in   long  bine  trousers,  wiMi  his   kead 
drooping,  stepped  in. 

"Where  have  you  been,  Charlie?"  ai^ed  tJie 
doctor. 

"Out." 

"What  for?" 

"Looking." 

The  expression  upon  the  rough  face  was  more 
like  that  of  a  child  than  a  man,  but  he  turned 
almost  a  defiant  face  toward  his  master  at  that 
moment. 

"I  ain't  going  to  get  any  more  girls,"  said  he 
crossly.  "I  hate  a-bringing  'em  in  here  f er  you  to 
sell  into  slavery.    I  had  a  sister  once  myself." 

"Oh,  you  did,"  laughed  the  doctor.  "You'll  do 
what  I  tell  you  to.  Now  listen,  don't  you  come  to 
this  place  to-morrow  without  bringing  at  least 
four  beauties." 

"Ain't  going  to." 

Into   the  eyes  of  the  doctor  crept  a  look  of 
hatred    He  turned  upon  the  sailor. 
^     "You  think  because  you're  getting  back  your 
senses  that  you  can  do  as  you  feel  like,  but  I  say 
that  you  shall  not." 


DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS.  57 

Saying  this,  he  walked  to  the  man  and  placed 
his  hand  upon  his  head.  He  pushed  with  fiendish 
joy  his  thumb  deep  into  the  skull.  This  caused  a 
transformation  in  the  sailor. 

He  rose  slowly  to  his  feet,  the  tears  dripping 
from  his  eyes. 

'*Yes,  master,"  muttered  he;  "yes,  master,  any- 
thing you  say." 

"Then  go  now,"  shouted  the  doctor. 

"Yes,  master,"  and  he  went.  Slowly  out  of  the 
room,  sobbing  at  each  step,  complete  slave  of  the 
man  who  was  making  him  his  tool,  went  the 
sailor,  and  the  doctor  burst  into  a  laugh. 

"Oh,  he  will  get  his  memory  back,  will  he?" 
murmured  he  between  the  chuckles;  "not  if  I 
know  it.  He  is  too  valuable  for  me  to  allow  him 
to  have  any  scruples.  I  bet,  though,"  he  added  as 
he  dropped  his  head  upon  his  hands,  "that  he  was 
a  dandy  when  he  was  young  and  well.  But  it  was 
a  good  thing  for  me  that  he  was  hurt  in  the  war 
and  that  bone  run  into  his  brain.  I  have  only  to 
press  its  tip  farther  in  to  make  him  more  my 
tool." 


5g  DANQERS  OF  WORKINQ  QIRLS. 

This  seemed  to  satisfy  him,  for  he  iaaghed  ont 
loud  and  then  stopped. 

"But  somehow  he  makes  me  think  of  somebody 
I  knew  once,  that  sailor.  I  cannot  bring  to  my 
mind  who  it  is.  Bah,  what  a  fool  I  am!  One 
would  think  that  I,  too,  had  a  bone  in  my  think 
tank." 

He  went  downstairs  and  looked  over  several 
girls  who  were  weeping  in  an  iron  cell  which  was 
padlocked. 

*What  you  crying  for,  beauty?"  cried  he  to  one 
little  blonde,  her  face  covered  with  streaking 
tears.  "You  are  too  pretty  to  cry.  Come  now,  be 
a  good  girl,  and  soon  I  will  give  you  into  the 
hands  of  the  best  lover  in  the  world." 

He  laughed  again  coarsely  as  he  said  this. 

"Oh,  God,  please,  please,"  cried  the  girl;  "I 
don't  like  to  stay  here.  Please,  I  beg  of  you,  allow 
me  to  leave  and  I'll  promise  to  be  the  best  girl  in 
the  world.  I'll  get  my  father  to  give  you  money. 
I  cannot  stay  away  from  my  little  mother." 

"Oh,  yes,  you  can,"  soothed  the  doctor,  coming 
near  the  cage  and  looking  in.  "You  will  only 
have  to  beat  your  pretty  wings  the  harder  the 


DANGERS   OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  59 

tnore  angry  you  get.  Now  look  at  the  fury  in  the 
corner,  with  the  black  eyes.  Do  you  mean  to  tell 
me  that  she  is  satisfied?'' 

Saying  this,  he  ran  his  cane  through  the  bars 
and  poked  a  girl  who  was  lying  close  in  the  cor- 
ner,  with  her  dark  eyes  fastened  upon  his  face. 
But  she  did  not  open  her  lips,  but  he  saw  them 
curl  up  in  scorn. 

"Why  don't  you  say  something  to  him,  girl?'' 
'demanded  the  blonde,  holding  out  her  hands 
pleading  to  the  one  in  the  corner ;  "maybe  he  will 
listen  to  you.  Cannot  you  think  of  something 
that  will  move  his  awful  heart?" 

"I  would  not  beg  him  to  let  me  free  if  I  lay 
here  until  I  rotted.  I'd  consider  him  like  a  dog 
or  a  jackass,  the  fool." 

The    terrible  intense  tones   rose  higher   and 
higher  as  she  spoke,  and  she  rose  slowly  from  her 
position. 
I     The  doctor's  face  was  distorted  with  rage. 

"You  won't  sing  that  song  to-morrow,"  said  he 
w  ith  an  ugly  grin.    "It  will  be  another  tune  when 
a  lover  holds  you  in  his  arms  and  one  whom  you  * 
will  hate.    Think  of  that,  my  proud  girl.    Come 


(50  DANGERS   OP  WORKING  GIRLS. 

to  think  of  it,  I  believe  you  are  the  handsomest  of 
the  bunch.    Come  nearer  to  the  edge." 

Slowly  the  girl  approached  the  bars  and 
brought  her  face  close  up  to  that  of  the  man. 

"You  are  right  pretty  if  you  would  get  that 
hateful  expression  from  your  face/'  tantalized 
Salsya.  "Come,  now,  and  soften  up  a  bit,  won't 
you?" 

"Yes,  I  will  soften  up  a  bit,"  snarled  the  girl ; 
"well  will  I  soften  you,"  and  saying  these  words, 
with  nimble  fingers  she  i;ushed  her  hand  between 
the  bars  and  gathered  a  handful  of  flesh  in  her 
fingers.  She  then  twisted  Salsya's  face  around 
and  around  and  laughed  the  while. 

With  an  awful  grunt  and  growl,  he  tore  him- 
self loose  and  when  he  looked  again  she  was  back 
in  the  corner  sitting  like  a  lioness  would  when 
ready  to  leap. 

"You  fury,"  shouted  he,  "I  will  make  you  pay 
for  that.    You  shall  be  sold  to  the  worst  man  in 
the  bunch  of  buyers  and  he  will  torment  your  life 
l^ut  of  you." 

V    "Just  tell  him  your  experience,"  said  the  girl, 
"and  if  you  should  forget,  then  will  I  show  him 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  Q^ 

whdt  a  girl  can  do  defending  her  honor.  Don^t 
you  ever  try  to  put  your  hands  upon  me  again,  for 
if  you  do  I  will  scratch  your  eyes  out.  I  wish  now 
I  had  done  that.  Oh,  girls,  look  at  that  face,  at 
the  blood  running  down  his  cheeks.  I  wish  I'd 
killed  him,  for  he  deserves  it.'' 

Her  temper  was  at  such  a  point  that  again  she 
went  to  the  bars  and  tried  to  get  at  him,  but  the 
doctor  moved  away  with  imprecations  upon  his 
lips. 

"I  don't  see  how  you  dared  to  do  that,"  cried 
the  blonde.  "It  was  as  much  as  your  life  was 
worth.  The  attendants  say  here  that  he  is  dread- 
fully vindictive  and  maybe  he  will  try  to  get 
even." 

"Let  him  try,"  answered  the  black-eyed  fury; 
"just  let  him  try.  I'll  make  him  sorry  if  he  tries 
any  of  his  shindigs  upon  me.  I  can  always  bite, 
and  I  would  stop  at  nothing.  I'll  bet  right  now 
that  he  does  not  forget  that  he  laughed  at  one  of 
his  victims." 

Dr.  Salsya  went  to  his  room,  in  which  he  rested 
"when  at  the  den,  and  looked  into  the  mirror. 

"Heavens,  what  a  devil!"  cried  he.    "I'll  get 


^2  DANGERS   OF  WORKING  GIRLS. 

her  into  a  place  where  she  will  beg  for  mercy 
from  me.  My,  how  her  eyes  blazed.  I  could 
almost  love  a  girl  like  that,  only  not  she.  I  could 
not  help  but  think  of  Hilda  when  she  was  raging. 
It  seemed  almost  as  if  I  could  hear  the  girl  rating 
me  for  keeping  her  a  prisoner.  I  wonder  if  it  will 
ever  be  my  fate  to  see  her  again.  I  wish  to  heavei 
I  could  forget  her.  She  was  the  light  of  my  eyes 
when  friends  with  me,  but  the  moment  I  mention- 
ed love,  then  what  a  fury  she  became.  I  wonder 
where  Karina  is.  There  is  the  only  woman  in  the 
world  who  ever  really  loved  me." 

He  was  evidently  thinking  deeply,  for  he  did 
not  notice  the  blood  as  it  dripped  from  the 
scratches  upon  his  face. 

*^Look  at  that  now,"  said  he,  at  last  lifting  his 
head,  "a  nice-looking  face  I  shall  have  to  present 
myself  to-night  at  Dean's.  It's  good  I  brought 
that  letter.  I  could  never  have  gotten  into  such 
a  house  without  something.  Wouldn't  Wallace 
be  mad  if  he  knew  that  I  used  his  name  without 
his  authority !  But  before  he  finds  out  the  truth 
I  shall  be  far  away  from  here.  I  don't  think  I 
sLould  ever  have  come  to  this  place  if  it  had  not 


DANGERS   OF  WORKING  QIRLS.  ^ 

t)een  for  Hilda.  She  is  the  one  thing  that  draws 
iiie  from  myself.  I  can  never  love  anotber 
woman.'' 

That  night  it  seemed  as  if  fate  were  playing  a 
game,  for  gathered  in  the  same  house  were  char- 
acters figuring  in  each  other's  lives  and  making 
situations  good  enough  for  a  novel.  But,  strange 
as  it  may  seem,  truth  is  often  stranger  than 
fiction. 


Mr.  Dean  came  home  with  a  smiling  face.  He 
sat  down  at  the  table  a  little  late.  Elsie  and 
Hilda  were  sitting  close  together.  They  were 
whispering  softly  as  the  mild-eyed  butler  gath- 
ered up  the  plates  and  walked  out.  In  bustled 
Izy  with  ice  water  and  placed  the  silver  pitcher 
upon  the  table. 

Izy  had  become  a  fixture  in  the  house,  and  he 
went  from  the  dining  room  to  the  kitchen,  where 
I  lie  was  met  by  a  woman  with  exceedingly  red 
hair. 

"Ah,  Ann,"  cried  he,  "you  should  see  how  purtj 


g4  DANGERS   OP   WORKING  GiRLa 

those  girls  look  to-night.  I  never  did  see  the 
likes.  There  is  only  one  other  girl  in  the  world 
sweeter  to  me  than  they  are." 

The  ponderous  form  turned  around,  and  the 
blue  eyes  snapped  at  the  German. 

"And  who  might  she  be,  pray?" 

"Your  own  dear  self,  Ann,"  cried  Izy.  "Oh,  I 
love  you  and  there  is  no  use  denying  it." 

For  a  moment  the  woman  did  not  reply,  then 
she  gathered  her  forces  together. 

"Look  a-here,  Izy  Cohen,  I  don't  have  much 
faith  in  Jews.  But  there  is  somepin  quite  takin' 
about  you.  Now  don't  you  think  you  can  fool 
with  me.  If  you're  in  earnest  then  we  will  get 
married  and  you  will  be  happy  with  your  Ann, 
but  don't  you  think  you  can  fool  with  me." 

Just  then  the  loud  ring  of  the  dining  room  bell 
made  it  necessary  for  the  German  to  rush  away. 
He  gasped  for  breath  as  he  took  himself  hastily 
up  the  stairs.  Get  married!  Why,  he  did  not 
want  to  marry,  for  to  marry  was  to  lose  liberty, 
but  to  love  was  different!  Ah,  Ann  had  him,  for^ 
surely  had  he  told  her  that  he  loved  her.  ^ 


DATSIGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS,  ^ 

He  walked  demurely  into  the  dining  room,  and 
answered  the  summons. 

"My,  I  don't  dare  to  go  back  to  that  woman,*^ 
muttered  he,  "and  I'll  just  hang  around  here 
until  I  know  that  she  has  gone  from  the  kitchen. 
Lord,  I'll  be  glad  to  get  out  of  this  place.  When 
Mr.  Branton  says  the  word  I'll  be  ready  to  leave 
this  house." 

He  waited  about  for  a  long  time  until  he  saw 
the  family  come  out  from  the  dining  room ;  then 
he  went  in  to  his  duties. 

"Say,  Izy,"  began  Elsie,  who  had  not  yet  gone, 
"I  heard  that  you  and  Ann  were  sweet  on  each 
other.  You  want  to  be  careful  of  her.  She  used 
to  be  in  a  circus." 

Izy  lifted  his  ears  in  a  characteristic  manner. 

"In  a  what?"  muttered  he.  "In  a  circus,  you 
gay?    Then,  my  heavens,  I'm  a  dead  man." 

"Oh,  yes,"  went  on  Elsie,  without  heeding  this 
last  ejaculation,  "she  used  to  break  an  iron  bar 
irith  her  two  hands,  and  could  walk  up  stairs 
with  four  men  on  her  shoulders." 

Elsie  was  saying  this  in  a  very  spectral  voice, 
und  her  eyes  were  dancing  with  joy.    She  could 


gg  DANGERS   OP   WORKING   GIRLS. 

4 
think  ©f  Dothing  awful  enough  to  add  to  peor 

Izy's  misery.     Had  he  not  just  told  this  strong 

woman  in  the  kitchen  that  he  loved  her?    Loved 

her,  bah !    Why,  she  was  more  like  a  man  than  a 

^  woman,  and  he  could  not  take  her  to  his  heart,  r 

Then  what  should  he  do? 

Elsie  was  still  speaking. 

"Oh,  they  say  there  is  nothing  she  cannot  lift.'' 

"Oh,  Miss  Elsie,  don't  tell  me  nothing  else;  I'm 
going  to  die  as  it  is." 

"Not  quite  so  bad  as  that,  Izy,"  laughed  the 
girl,  "but  I  thought  I  would  warn  you.'' 

Before  they  could  say  another  word  a  loud  ring 
at  the  beli  caused  them  to  stop. 


DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS.  ^X 


CHAPTER  V. 

Hilda  had  taken  up  a  book  and  was  sitting  in 
the  library  reading.    She  heard  voices  in  the  hall. 

"Ah,  so  you  are  Mr.  Branton,  a  friend  of  my 
husband's?  Well,  do  come  into  the  resting  room 
and  have  a  cup  of  coffee." 

"I  thank  you,  Mrs.  Dean,"  said  a  voice  that 
made  Hilda  Murivale  rise  to  her  feet.    She  stood 
•^till,  the  blood  rushing  into  her  face,  and  then  re- 
eding and  leaving  it  pale. 

"Ah,  that  voice,"  murmured  she;  "oh,  where 
have  I  heard  it  before?  I  want  to  get  a  look  at 
his  face." 

But  this  was  impossible,  for  the  speakers  had 
passed  on,  and  the  girl  was  left  where  she  was 
standing.  She  sat  down  again. 
I  "What  a  fool  I  was,"  soliloquized  she,  "a  veri- 
table fool,  for  it  could  no  more  be  my  rescuer  than 
it  could  be  the  President.    There  now,  little  silly. 


^  DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS, 

be  sensible  and  see  to  it  that  you  are  not  letting 
your  face  betray  you  in  case  it  should  be  he." 

At  the  table  she  heard  her  employer  say  that 
there  was  to  be  as  company  a  man  who  was  a , 
friend  of  a  friend  of  his. 

"Why,  it's  strange,"  Mr.  Dean  had  said,  "that 
I  cannot  remember  his  name.  Never  mind,  I  will 
ask  him  when  he  comes." 

So  even  his  wife,  the  woman  from  India,  was 
unprepared  for  the  shock  which  was  to  come  to 
her,  unprepared  for  the  strange  turn  of  the  wheel 
of  fate. 

Mrs.  Dean  always  made  it  a  practice  to  enter- 
tain her  husband's  guests  with  all  royalty.  She 
never  allowed  them  to  go  away  without  the  best 
opinion  of  her  hospitality,  so  that  when  young 
Mr.  Branton  was  announced  and  she  apologized 
for  her  husband's  absence,  saying  that  he  was 
taking  a  nap,  she  asked  that  he  would  come  with 
her  to  try  a  cup  of  their  famous  Indian  coffee. 

She  left  him  sitting  talking  with  Elsie  while 
she  went  back  to  see  who  had  just  rung  the  bell.  ^ 
She  asked  Izy  to  bring  the  visitor  into  the  parlor  f 
and  she  would  be  there. 


DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS.  gg| 

Little  thinking  who  might  stand  before  her,  she 

raised  her  eyes  at  the  sound  of  footsteps,  and  the 

room  commenced  to  whirl  around,  and  she  was  in 

,  the  presence  of  a  man  who  had  made  the  greatest 

>  impression  upon  her  life. 

Then  she  raised  her  head  slowly  and  gasped, 
^Tou,  how  dared  you  come  here?" 

"I  came  upon  Mr.  Dean's  invitation,"  was  the 
answer,  and  Dr.  Salsya  bent  low  to  her  question 
with  a  smile  upon  his  face.  No  matter  if  a  man 
is  tired  of  a  woman  he  never  likes  to  think  that 
she  is  no  longer  in  love  with  him.  And  this  dark 
Indian  doctor  need  have  no  fear  about  the  woman 
near  him.  Her  eyes  devoured  his  face,  while  her 
hand  upon  her  side  tried  to  quiet  a  beating  heart. 

"Then  you  know  my  husband?"  said  she  in  a 
low  tone. 

"Yes,  slightly,  Karina,  but  only  to-day.  I 
brought  him  a  letter  from  a  mutual  frienol  in 
India." 

"Ah,  I  remember  hearing  him  speak  about  you, 
;  but  he  had  forgotten  your  name.  Heavens,  I  can- 
^  not  realize  that  I  am  standing  in  the  presence  of 
the  man  who  so  cruelly  wronged  me." 


f^Q  DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS. 


"Forgive  me,  Karina,"  cried  Salsya,  with  some* 
thing  of  the  dog  in  the  manger  manner.  He  did 
ot  love  her  himself,  and  he  did  not  want  anyone 
else  to.  This  rich  broker  now  seemed  to  loom  up 
before  him  as  a  possible  suitor,  the  doctor  fearing 
that  in  this  first  moment  the  woman  really  felt 
different  from  what  she  demonstrated.  He  want- 
ed Karina  to  help  him  in  certain  things.  What  a 
valuable  aid,  added  to  Charlie,  she  would  be. 

"Forgive  you?''  hesitated  she;  "forgive  you  for 
the  words  you  said  to  me?  Oh,  it  seems  impossi- 
ble. If  I  had  any  pride  left  I  would  not  even 
hesitate  over  it.  But  I  have  not,  I  am  sure.  But, 
Salsya,  have  you  missed  me  much?" 

"Much?''  asked  the  man,  playing  a  part; 
"much,  there  are  no  words  to  explain  how  much. 
I  followed  you  to  America." 

With  one  great  cry  she  fell  upon  his  breast. 
Heaven  could  not  offer  her  such  bliss  as  she  re- 
ceived from  this  man.  He  still  loved  her,  and  had 
her  rich  husband  been  there  she  would  have  acted 
no  different,  for  the  slumbering  passion  seemed 
to  consume  her,  and  she  ceased  to  remember  that 
there  was  such  a  thing  in  the  world  as  ties  more 


DANGERS   OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  7|^ 

sacred  than  those  which  had  loomed  up  afresh  to 
lure  her  from  the  path  of  duty.  All  the  old  love 
she  had  ever  had  for  this  man  now  rushed  over 
her. 

"Sweetheart,  heart  of  my  heart,  my  lover  and 
friend,''  murmured  she,  "I  have  never  known  joy 
before.  I  have  not  lived  one  day  without  you  that 
I  did  not  regret  that  I  lived,  but  to-night  I  can 
breathe  again,  and  know  that  you  love  me.  Oh, 
God,  I  love  you  better  than  life,  better  than  my 
eternal  happiness,  and  may  God  forgive  you  if 
you  ever  turn  from  me  again." 

She  raised  her  voice  as  she  said  these  words. 

"Hush,  sweet,"  said  the  man,  himself  feeling  a 
wave  of  the  emotion  that  thrilled  her.  "We  are 
together  now,  and  you  need  worry  no  more.  I 
love  you,  and  if  you  say  so  then  you  may  go  with 
me.  I  have  a  gigantic  enterprise  on  hand  and 
you  may  help  me." 

"Ah,  my  love,  will  I  go?    Will  I  raise  the  cup 
of  happiness  to  my  lips  and  then  with  my  own 
hands  dash  it  to  the  ground?    Don't  you  worry. 
I  will  go  with  you  when  you  say  the  word." 
i  '  "Then  I  say  for  you  to  come  to-night" 


72  DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS. 

A  sound  in  the  hall  made  them  both  keep 
silent.  It  was  Izy  waiting  upon  the  door.  An- 
other visitor  entered,  but  Mr.  Dean  had  arisen 
f  from  his  nap  ready  to  see  his  friends. 

"Glad  to  see  you,  O'Hara,"  cried  Dean.  "You 
will  find  your  friend  Bran  ton  here.  He  is  a  splen- 
did fellow." 

"Yes,  I  always  liked  him  in  college.  You  see 
he  was  my  chum." 

O'Hara  was  taking  off  his  coat  as  he  said  this. 

"Come  into  the  parlor.  Ah,  my  dear,  I  did  not 
know  that  you  were  here,"  and  as  the  second  oc- 
cupant in  the  room  came  forward  he  exclaimed, 
"and  you,  too ;  let  me  see,  what  did  you  say  your 
name  was?    I  forgot  it — Doctor " 

"Salsya,  Salsya." 

"Oh,  yes ;  my  darling,  let  me  introduce  you  to  a 
friend  of  old  Wallace's ;  you  remember  him,  and 
this  good  doctor  has  come  to  be  our  guest  for  a 
little  while." 

The  consummate  actress  lifted  her  eyes  and 
held  out  her  hand.  "The  doctor  and  I  have  been 
talking  together,  and  we  are  quite  well  acquaint- 
ed with  each  other." 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  fg 

The  good  broker  did  not  notice  that  his  wile's 
face  grew  a  warmer  pink,  or  that  she  was  trem* 
Ming. 

%    **Yes,  truly  you  told  me  to-day  that  she  wa« 
^feeautiful.    Let  me  do  ^homage  to  the  most  beauti- 
ful woman  in  New  York.'' 

Mrs.  Dean  bowed,  and  with  her  hand  in  that  of 
lier  husband  sank  down  upon  the  divan. 

*^It  is  so  pleasant  to  have  friends  to  see  one,'^ 
said  she  when  she  could  get  her  breath;  "I  am 
happy  to-night." 

"And  there  is  nothing  in  the  world  that  makes 
me  as  contented  as  to  hear  you  say  that,  darling,'^ 
said  Dean. 

The  woman  drew  her  hand  away  in  a  pretence 
«f  wanting  her  handkerchief.  She  could  not  now 
iBtand  to  be  petted  by  Dean  while  she  was  in  the 
presence  of  this  man  whom  she  had  loved  for 
years. 

"I  love  her  so,"  explained  Dean  to  his  visitors ; 
^^e  is  the  very  apple  of  my  eye." 

Mrs.  Dean  turned  impatiently  away.  She 
tpamted  no  love  words  now  from  any  man  but  this 
•oea    This  Indian  doctor,  who  had  come  again 


^4  DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS. 

into  her  life,  was  from  now  on  to  be  her  idol.  She 
cared  nothing  as  to  his  poverty.  She  cared  not 
if  he  was  as  poor  as  the  poorest  in  the  world.  She 
would  rob  her  husband,  her  benefactor,  for  him. 
There  was  nothing  she  would  not  do  for  him. 

She  was  sitting  in  a  dream  of  bliss,  in  a  trance 
and  spell  of  happiness,  which  she  had  never 
known  before. 

As  the  talk  went  on  she  still  dreamed  and  wove 
in  the  air  fancies  which  gave  her  exquisite  pleas- 
ure. 


In  the  library  Elsie  was  excusing  herself  and 
asking  Branton  if  he  would  mind  staying  alone 
while  she  ran  upstairs. 

As  she  asked  this  Branton  smiled  as  he  thought 
of  the  lame  child  running. 

"Of  course,"  said  he;  "I'll  amuse  myself  with 
these  pictures." 

Elsie  ran  into  Hilda,  who  was  coming  from  the 
library.  ' 

"Oh,  darling,"  cried  the  lame  girl,  "will  you  go 


DANGERS  OF  WOHICiJiG  GIRLS.  75 

into  the  resting  room  and  entertain  one  of  uncle's 
guests,  because  he  is  there  alone?  Just  tell  him 
who  you  are." 

Hilda  had  gotten  over  her  shock  and  had  made 
up  her  mind  that  she  was  mistaken  in  the  voice  * 
that  she  heard,  and  she  ran  into  the  room  and 
stood  blushing  before  the  very  man  who  rescued 
her  from  the  river. 

He  was  sitting  at  the  table  with  his  hands  rest- 
ing upon  a  pictured  paper  when  he  heard  a  noise. 
Was  it  a  beautiful  apparition  that  stood  before 
him?  The  same  eyes  which  had  haunted  him  for 
months? 

"Why,  why,  oh,  I  thought  I  heard  your  voice. 
Oh,  I — have  wanted  to  see  you  so  very  much." 

The  man  had  risen  to  his  feet  and  was  taking 
hold  of  her  hands. 

"And  I,  child,  have  sought  for  you  since  that 
terrible  night.   Where  have  you  been  ?" 

"Trying  to  live,  since  you  have  given  me  a 

chance  to.    Oh,  Mr. — Mr. Tell  me  who  you 

are !" 

"Branton." 

"Mr.  Branton,  I  want  to  tell  you  how  much  I 


76  DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS. 

now  value  my  life,  and  how  thankful  I  am  to  you 
that  you  saved  me." 

She  disengaged  her  hands  from  his,  and  was 
panting  out  her  gratitude  to  him. 

"And  I  am  thankful  to  see  you  again.  Little 
woman,  as  I  told  you  before,  life  is  well  worth 
living." 

"I  have  found  it  out  since  I  came  here  to  live,'* 
answered  the  girl,  looking  about  the  handsomely 
furnished  room.  "You  cannot  imagine  how  lovely 
everybody  is  to  me." 

"There  is  nothing  you  do  not  deserve,  child,*' 
replied  Bran  ton.  While  in  fact  there  were  not  so 
many  years  between  their  ages  as  one  would 
think,  yet  she  looked  so  dreadfully  childish  stand- 
ing there  in  the  little  blue  dress,  the  very  color 
he  always  liked. 

He  felt  a  sudden  desire  to  take  her  in  his  arms 
and  lift  her  completely  into  his  life,  but  what 
would  she  think  of  the  awful  way  he  earned  his 
living?  Never  before  since  those  days  when  he 
had  no  money  at  all  and  had  reasoned  out  that 
the  world  had  owed  him  a  living  one  way  or  an- 
other, and  decided  upon  his  own  way,  had  he  let 


I 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  77 

it  enter  his  mind  that  he  was  doing  anything 
wrong,  and  not  until  now  did  he  bare  his  soul 
before  this  questioning  innocent  girl  and  saw 
himself  in  all  his  guilt. 

"Elsie  wants  me  always  to  live  with  her,"  said 
she,  sinking  down  into  a  seat,  "but  sometime  I 
am  going  away  and  into  business  for  myself." 

"And  pray,  what  do  you  wish  to  do?" 

"I  thought  of  opening  a  school  for  little  chil- 
dren. You  know,  where  I  can  be  with  children 
who  will  love  me.    I  am  devoted  to  babies." 

She  said  this  without  the  least  desire  to  make 
an  impression  and  his  heart  thrilled  as  he  heard 
the  words. 

How  he  would  love  to  offer  her  a  home,  one  in 
which  he  could  have  little  children  of  his  own, 
and  hers,  too — little  feet  to  patter  their  way 
into  his  heart.  It  was  the  first  real  desire  he  had 
ever  had  for  a  child  of  his  own.  Always  ready  to 
place  his  arms  about  a  child  that  might  come  in 
hiiB  way,  but  to  really  have  his  heart  flutter  at  the 
ithought  of  one  of  his  own,  it  never  had.  i 

The  sound  of  voices  in  the  outer  hall  brought  | 


Y8  DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS. 

them  both  to  their  feet.  Mrs.  Dean  had  entered 
the  room, 

"Ah,  yon  have  known  each  other  before?"  said 
she,  looking  searchingly  from  one  to  the  other. 

"And  I  am  happy  to  say  yes,"  answered  Barney 
Branton,  lifting  Hilda's  hand  to  his  lips. 

"I  met  Mr.  Branton  last  fall,"  ventured  Hilda. 
And  that  was  all  that  w^as  then  said. 

But  Mrs.  Dean  did  not  forget  that  these  two 
were  earnestly  talking  when  she  came  into  the 
room.  In  reality,  she  was  seeking  a  place  where 
she  might  take  Salsya  alone  that  they  might  talk 
and  make  arrangements.  The  man  was  delighted 
that  she  had  married  a  wealthy  man.  It  only 
made  it  impossible  for  her  to  insist  upon  mar- 
riage with  him,  for  he  made  up  his  mind  that 
nothing  should  tempt  him  to  place  a  wedding 
ring  upon  that  woman's  finger.  Hilda  Murivale, 
w^herever  she  might  be  in  all  the  broad  earth,  was 
the  one  woman  he  intended  to  marry,  and  no  one 
else,  but  the  woman  now  looking  into  Branton^s 
eyes  did  not  know  this.  Literally  she  had  be- 
lieved that  Salsya  had  followed  her  to  New  York, 
The  thought  had  filled  her  with  delight.   Nothing 


DANGERS   OF  WORKING  GIRLS.  79 

BOW  could  make  her  aught  but  happy.    No  more 

the  thought  of  her  husband  came  into  her  mind. 

He  was  but  a  figure  in  her  life  anj^way,  while  this 

i  man,  tliis  dark  passionate  man,  was  her  day  star 

^  and  hope. 

Hilda  arose  and  asked  to  be  excused,  her  eyes 
telling  Barney  that  she  would  see  him  again. 

Mrs.  Dean  also  arose  and  said:  "Won^t  you 
come  into  the  parlor?  Mr.  Dean  is  there  wdth 
your  friend,  the  detective,  and  they  would  like 
Tou  to  join  them  in  cigars." 

This  young  man  would  much  rather  have  re- 
mained alone  to  think,  to  ponder  over  his  good 
fortune  and  to  make  plans  for  the  future.  But 
Dean  was  his  host,  so  he  strolled  away  into  the 
room  and  sat  down,  after  being  introduced  to  the 
doctor.  The  two  men  looked  at  each  other,  and 
little  realized  that  they  were  to  cross  each  other's 
paths  in  deadly  hatred,  and  all  over  the  love  of  a 
slender  girl,  loving  only  the  young  burglar. 

Hilda  flew  to  her  room.    Elsie  was  just  appear- 
I  ing  from  her  own  boudoir. 
t     "Oh,  come  in  with  me,  Elsit,"  gasped  Hilda, 


80  DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS. 

*^until  I  tell  you.    Who  do  you  think  that  Mr. 
Branton  is?'' 

"I  don't  know,"  said  Elsie,  her  eyes  growimg^ 
larger  with  eagerness. 

"My  hero  who  saved  me  from  the  river*    Mj  * 
friend,  and  the  one  who  gave  me  the  hundred  dol- 
lars." 

"My,  how  romantic,"  sighed  Elsie  as  she  emrled 
her  little  lame  foot  under  her.  "Did  he  know  jou 
first?" 

"I  guess  it  was  together,"  said  Hilda,  "and  yom 
don't  know  how  lovely  he  is.  Oh,  I  wish  that  y^m. 
might  know  him." 

"Why,  I  did  talk  with  him  a  whole  hour.  I 
think  he  is  perfectly  lovely.  And — oh,  Hilda» 
when  you  get  married,  may  I  not  stay  a  part  ©f 
the  time  with  you?  It  would  be  unendurable  he3t& 
with  Aunt  Karina,  without  you." 

"Oh,  but  I'm  not  going  to  marry  him,  Elsie,  jou 
silly;  maybe  he  is  already  married." 

"Oh,  I  hope  not,  for  that  will  take  ali  the  ro- 
mance out  of  it.    Do  tell  me  all  he  said." 

Between  blushes  and  sighs  the  young  girl  told 
her  friend  just  what  passed  between  her  suaA 


DANGERS   OF  WORKING  GIRLS.  g1 

Branton.  But  she  failed  to  explain  about  th© 
lovelorn  looks  that  came  from  the  young  man  and 
entered  her  soul  and  set  her  pulses  to  throbbing* 


"Come  in  here,"  whispered  Mrs.  Dean  as  she 
drew  the  Indian  doctor  after  her  into  the  dark- 
ened conservatory.  "I  choose  this  place,"  she 
added,  "so  that  no  one  can  come  upon  us  without 
our  seeing  them.  They  only  come  in  through  the 
resting  room." 

"You  are  as  thoughtful  as  ever,"  said  the  doc- 
tor. "Now  tell  me  how  you  came  to  get  into  such 
easy  places." 

"After  you  left  me,"  began  the  woman,  and  be- 
fore she  could  finish  the  man  had  drawn  her  to 
him  and  imprinted  a  kiss  upon  her  lips. 

"Don't  mention  that  time  when  I  acted  like  a 
cad.  I  had  more  trouble  than  you  can  imagine. 
There  now,  go  on  from  the  time  you  entered  this 
city."  \ 

The  pressure  of  his  hands  upon  her  face  sent  I 
the  blood  flying  to  her  heart,  and  she  thought  she 


g2  DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS. 

was  going  to  lose  her  mind,  the  ecstasy  was  sa 
great. 

"I  simply  met  Mr.  Dean  on  my  way  over,"  ex«» 
j  plained  she  when  she  could  get  her  breath,  "and 
\  he  asked  me  to  marry  him.  I  told  him  that  I  was 
a  widow,  and  he  believed  it." 

"Simple  old  soul,"  commented  the  doctor. 

"And  as  good  to  me  as  gold,"  sighed  Karina. 
"I  do  not  know  why  I  do  not  love  him." 

"Because  you  love  me,  sweet,"  said  Salsya,  not 
wishing  her  to  get  into  a  mood  of  repentance ;  "a 
woman  cannot  love  two  men  at  the  same  time." 

"Aye,  darling,  because  I  love  you,  and  I  have 
never  known  another  love  in  the  world.  But  you, 
my  lord,  my  master,  my  all,  you  have  but  to  com- 
mand, and  I  will  obey." 

"Then,  by  the  love  you  bear  me,  I  <;ommand  you 
to  come  with  me  to-night,  to  throw  away  all  your 
past  with  him,  and  henceforth  live  for  me  alone.'' 


DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS.  g^ 


CHAPTER  VI. 

They  made  their  arrangements  in  the  dark, 
only  the  sweet-smelling  flowers  to  look  on,  and 
once  in  a  while  a  twitter  of  a  bird  in  the  branches 
of  the  ferns  to  hear. 

Karina  was  to  leave  her  room  at  midnight,  but 
before  going  there  was  to  leave  the  onter  window 
open.  Salsya  was  to  come  after  her  and  also  get 
into  the  safe  to  get  whatever  money  might  be 
there. 

"Does  he  bring  much  money  home  with  him?'* 
asked  the  doctor  in  a  low  tone. 

"There  is  five  thousand  dollars  in  there  now,'' 
answered  Karina. 

The  Indian's  eyes  glistened. 

"Then  we  will  have  that  as  your  portion,"  said 
he,  smiling. 

"I  could  get  much  more  if  you  would  wait,'* 
hesitated  Karina. 


^  DANGERS  OP  WORKING  SIRLS. 

"I  will  not  wait,"  said  the  doctor,  and  then  to 
further  add  to  the  woman's  delight,  he  said :  "You 
have  been  with  him  long  enough.  I  claim  yow 
from  now  on."  I 

Such  words  to  such  a  woman  as  Karina  Dea» 
was  the  delight  of  her  soul.  Her  passive  life  with 
her  husband  had  floated  away  like  a  white  cloucf 
upon  a  clear  day. 

"Then  we  will  take  my  jewels  and  all  the  silver 
that  we  can  carry.  Oh,  Salsya,  we  will  be  so 
happy  after  our  long  separation.  I  know  heaven 
led  you  to  me,  and  I  shall  never  leave  you  again.'! 

If  she  had  been  able  to  look  into  the  future  and 
seen  the  trouble  which  this  man  was  to  make  for 
her,  the  bitter  trouble  which  would  cost  her  more 
than  her  life,  she  would  have  hesitated  before 
going  to  the  point  of  robbing  her  husband  and 
leaving  the  shelter  of  his  love. 


In  another  room  Izy  was  fussing  about  with 
certain  things  which  were  really  not  his  business, 
but  he  wanted  a  word  with  Pranton,  and  the  time 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  gg 

came  when  Dean  arose  and  asked  O'Hara  to  come 
with  him,  that  he  wanted  to  talk  about  the  rob- 
beries in  the  neighborhood. 

"Will  jou  come,  Branton?"  aske4  the  rich 
man.  *^The  fact  is  I  wanted  to  confide  my  feara 
to  Mr.  O'Hara  before  my  wife  comes  and  de- 
mands that  we  spend  our  time  with  the  ladies. 
There  is  a  dangerous  fellow  abroad.  They  say  no 
one  is  as  clever  as  he.  I  would  to  heaven  he'd  try 
in  this  house  and  I  would  be  able  to  give  him  a 
dose  of  cold  lead." 

*^Don't  worry,  Mr.  Dean,"  urged  the  detective. 
^^This  king  of  the  cracksmen  will  not  always  be  at 
larga  He  is  the  only  one  working  his  methods. 
Decidedly  clever,  that  chap." 

Branton  rose,  and  with  the  same  spirit  of  dar- 
ing burst  into  a  laugh.  "It  is  not  hard  to  take 
money  and  jewels  from  some  people,"  said  he. 
"Now,  O'Hara,  what  if  I  should  say  to  you  that 
you  had  lost  your  diamond  pin?" 

"I  should  say  that  you  were  mistaken,"  laud- 
ed O'Hara,  putting  his  hand  up  to  his  tie,  and 
then  he  started  back.  "By  George,  I  have  lost  it- 
Have  you  found  it,  Branton?" 


gg  DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS. 

"Yes,  I  took  it  out  of  your  tie  when  you  did  not 
know  it,  when  I  heard  you  brag  what  you  were 
going  to  do  to  this — this — king  of  the  cracksmen. 
I  wondered  if  you  knew  what  it  was  to  have  a 
thing  stolen  under  your  nose." 

"I — I — ^well,  old  fellow,  you  really  did  get  tlie 
best  of  me.  I  am  surprised.  Now  then,  how 
tinder  the  blue  sky  did  you  get  that  from  me?" 

"Took  it,  that  is  all,"  said  Branton,  "the  same 
time  I  took  Mr.  Dean's  watch.  I  wondered  why 
he  did  not  put  cold  lead  into  the  burglar." 

Branton  had  done  it  all  in  a  spirit  of  bravado. 
He  wanted  to  see  what  these  men  would  say  when 
he  showed  them  what  he  could  do. 

They  looked  first  from  one  to  the  other,  and 
O'Hara  being  the  first  to  get  his  breath,  said : 

"Well,  I  must  say,  old  fellow,  you  are  all  right ; 
what  fun  it  is  to  do  those  sleight-of-hand  tricks !" 

Branton  stared.  "Do  you  think  that  sleight- 
of-hand  tricks,  O'Hara?" 

"I  don't,"  stoutly  spoke  up  Dean;  "I  think  it 
downright  light-fingered." 

"You  are  nearer  right  than  Kane,  Mr.  Dean^ 
-and  I  think  you  know  the  meaning  of  words." 


DANGERS   OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  gj 

They  laughed  it  off,  but  O'Hara  afterward 
could  not  but  remember  just  that  little  incident 
which  had  at  the  time  seemed  trivial. 

Izy  came  into  the  room  after  he  saw  the  young 
man  alone. 

"Going  to  do  it  to-night,  master?"  asked  he. 

"Yes,  of  course." 

This  without  his  even  looking  up  from  his 
paper. 

"Then  I  shall  be  ready  after  the  family  have 
gone  to  bed,  and,  look  here,  boss,  I  don't  want  to 
stay  here  in  this  house  after  to-morrow,  for  there 
will  be  a  woman  after  me  if  I  do,"  and  under  his 
breath  he  related  the  experience  he  had  had  with 
Ann  and  what  Elsie  had  said  about  her. 

"Now  where  would  I  be,  kind  sir,"  asked  Izy, 
making  a  deep  bow  before  Branton,  "if  a  woman 
who  could  carry  four  men  upstairs  in  her  arms 
should  get  after  me?" 

"There  would  be  little  left  of  you,  Izy,"  replied 
Branton.  "There  now,  go  and  don't  show  up^ 
until  you  know  that  I  want  you." 

For  a  long  time  Branton  sat  with  his  face  in 
iiis  hands,  absolutely  alone.    The  only  sound  he 


g§  DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS. 

could  hear  was  a  rumble  of  voices  in  the  distance, 
and  once  in  a  while  he  heard  O'Hara  laugh. 

"I  have  seen  her,  my  little  girl  whom  I  have 
claimed  so  long  as  my  own.  My  ideal  girl,  if  she 
did  try  to  kill  herself.  My  sweetest  of  maidens, 
what  have  I  done,  made  a  barrier  between  us  that 
I  cannot  break  down?  I  love  you,  Hilda  Muri- 
vale." 

He  still  kept  his  face  in  his  hands.  There  was 
a  silence  which  weighed  heavily  upon  him. 

"I  will  never  steal  another  penny,''  said  he  to 
Ihimself  with  firmness.  "I  shall  be  a  good  man, 
one  that  can  take  the  hand  of  that  woman  and  tell 
her  that  I  love  her.  Oh,  I  do  love  her.  There, 
now,  I've  gone  and  fallen  in  love,  just  as  I  feared. 
But  I'll  have  to  keep  my  appointment  with  Izy, 
for  he  will  leave  the  door  open  and  expect  me." 

So  the  night  wore  on  until  Mr.  Dean  went  ta 
look  for  his  wife.  She  was  waiting  for  him  upon 
the  landing  at  the  top  of  the  stairs.  Just  having 
left  her  lover's  arms,  she  was  on  the  point  of  com- 
ing to  Dean  when  he  met  her. 

^^How  beautiful  you  look  to-night,  love,"  said 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  g9 

he,  looking  into  her  sparMiag  ejes;  "I  have  sever 
seen  you  so  beautiful." 

"Because  I  am  happy,"  Replied  she;  "oh,  so 
happy." 

Almost  on  the  eve  of  leaving  him,  she  could 
flaunt  her  happiness  in  his  face,  and  he,  poor 
man,  congratulated  himself  that  he  was  the  cause 
of  her  red  cheeks  and  sparkling  eyes. 

After  they  were  in  their  room  Mr.  Dean  kissed 
his  pretty  wife  good-night.  She  breathed  hard 
when  he  told  her  to  sleep  well  and  to  wake  up  in 
the  morning  as  happy  as  she  then  was. 

How  many  times  in  the  future,  after  the  events 
of  that  terrible  night  had  passed,  did  she  wish 
that  she  had  her  husband  with  her.  But  now  her 
heart  was  so  filled  with  passion  for  another  that 
nothing  he  said  seemed  good  to  her. 

Everything  seemed  so  quiet  in  the  house.  Mr. 
Bean  had  taken  a  final  farewell  of  all  his  friends, 
and  O'Hara  and  Branton  had  gone  out  together. 
The  Indian  had  taken  an  effusive  farewell. 
i  Mrs.  Dean  did  not  undress.  She  simply  slipped 
'  her  fine  dress  off  and  placed  upon  herself  a  com- 
moner one,  and  then  sped  to  the  resting  room,  of 


]^0  DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS. 

trhich  she  opened  the  window  leading  to  the 
porch.  She  had  not  been  gone  but  a  moment 
when  Izy  slipped  in  and  started  to  unfasten  the 
window,  when  to  his  surprise  it  slipped  in  his 
fingers  and  it  stood  open  before  him.  He  grunted 
and  went  away. 

The  time  that  elapsed  between  Mrs.  Dean  going 
and  Izy's  coming  was  about  the  same  when  a 
young  girlish  figure  stepped  from  the  library  into 
the  room.  She  did  not  glance  toward  the  window^ 
but  went  on  to  the  book  shelf. 

Suddenly  looking  up  she  saw  before  her  horri- 
fied eyes  the  dark  face  of  the  Indian  rising  out  of 
the  darkness  of  the  night.  The  man  was  entering 
the  window. 

He  had  seen  the  girl  even  before  she  saw  him. 
Hilda  was  about  to  open  her  lips  to  scream  when 
she  heard  Dr.  Salsya  say : 

"Speak  not,  for  I  have  come  to  talk  to  you.  Lis- 
ten, you  have  struggled  against  my  love  for  a 
long  time.  To-day  I  located  you,  and  now  you 
will  come  with  me." 

The  man  had  forgotten  the  passionate  woman 
up  in  the  dimly  lighted  room  waiting  with  bated 


DANGERS   OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  91 

breath  the  signal  for  her  to  come  to  him,  forgot- 
ten that  in  the  safe  were  valuables  which  he  had 
come  after.  Everything  had  gone  from  his  mind 
but  the  fact  that  Hilda,  his  little  love,  the  girl  he 
had  followed  over  the  ocean,  was  here  with  him, 
and  that  he  loved  her.  Never  more  should  she 
leave  him,  never  more  fly  from  his  arms. 

"How  dare  you  come  after  me,"  said  the  girl, 
now  mustering  courage  to  speak ;  "how  dare  you, 
when  you  know  that  I  know  that  you  killed  my 
father  just  to  get  your  vile  hands  upon  me.  I 
hate  you,  you  may  kill  me,  but  I  shall  not  go  with 
you." 

"And  I  say  that  you  shall,  now;  do  you  hear? 
Don't  tamper  with  me,  girl,  for  you  have  no 
friends  who  will  keep  you  from  me.  Listen,  you 
are  to  go  with  me  now." 

Hilda  looked  from  side  to  side.  What  a  fool 
she  was  to  come  after  that  book — oh,  if  Elsie  were 
only  there. 

Hardly  had  these  words  dropped  from  the 
man's  lips  before  another  figure  appeared  at  the 
door.  The  man  saw  that  it  was  Karina,  and  she 
had    not  yet  seen  the   girl.     Here  was  Hilda's 


92  DANG«aiS  OF  WORKING  ©IRI^. 

cjiance.  She  faded  away  like  a  spirit  into  th« 
conservatory,  the  man  being  too  much  of  a  cow- 
ard to  let  the  older  woman  see  his  passion  for  her 
servant 

Salsya  had  told  the  girl  a  lie.  He  had  not 
bracked  her  there,  neither  did  he  know  that  she 
was  in  the  house,  but  with  all  his  usual  nerve  he 
had  stood  up  and  contended  that  it  was  for  her 
he  had  come. 

"Ah,"  he  whispered  slowly,  "you  were  prompt, 
sweetheart;  I  knew  that  I  could  rely  upon  you. 
My  honey  sweet,  what  is  your  advice?" 

The  woman's  face  was  white  as  death.  She 
could  have  sworn  that  she  heard  voices,  heard  a 
slight  whisper  just  as  she  had  entered  the  door, 
also  noticed  a  shadow  as  something  disappeared. 

But  the  man  was  so  suave  that  in  a  moment  sh® 
had  regained  her  self-control  and  was  leaning 
upon  his  breast. 

It  seemed  as  if  the  whole  world  were  in  evi- 
dence, for  just  as  they  were  bending  over  the  safe 
another  head  appeared  at  the  window.  A  face 
covered  with  a  dark  mask  crept  closer  and  closec 
until  a  manly  form  sprang  into  the  window.         ] 


DANC5ERS   OP  WORKING  QIRLS.  0g 

Barney  Branton  had  made  up  his  mind  not  to 
steal  this  money,  but  he  had  no  idea  of  allowing 
any  one  else  to  get  it,  even  if  it  were  the  lover  of 
the  rich  man's  wife.  This  he  realized  in  an  in- 
stant as  soon  as  he  saw  who  the  man  was. 

The  money  and  jewels  were  out  on  the  table. 
He  had  his  revolver  leveled  at  the  doctor. 

His  face  was  still  covered,  and  he  said  in  a  low, 
intense  tone : 

"You  will  please  put  that  money  back  where 
J'ou  got  it  from." 

Both  the  man  and  the  woman  turned  and  stood 
paralyzed. 

"Put  it  back,  I  say,  maney  robber  and  wife 
snatcher.'^ 

Slowly  the  money  was  replaced  back  into  the 
safe. 

"Now,  madam,''  cried  Branton,  "you  go  to  your 
room  and  thank  God  that  you  have  been  saved  the 
shame  and  disgrace  of  being  with  a  man  who 
would  not  only  take  a  man's  money  but  his  wife." 

The  woman's  eyes  filled  with  hate  and  fira  Was 
she  going  to  be  baffled  in  this  her  hour  of  trl-  i 


94  DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS. 

umph?  Was  she  going  to  lose  the  happiness 
which  was  to  come  to  her  only  through  her  lover? 

Without  a  word  she  turned  and  fled  and  Bran- 
ton  sat  down  by  the  conservatory  door.  He  still 
held  his  weapon  close  to  the  face  of  the  man. 

"Now,  tell  me,  sir,"  said  he,  "what  you  intend 
to  do." 

The  Indian  watched  him  narrowly.  His  lips 
looked  like  the  pages  of  a  sealed  book.  He  had 
no  words  to  say. 

"Are  you  going  to  answer  me?'' 

Threateningly  the  revolver  was  raised  a  little 
higher. 

"I  think  words  are  not  needed,"  said  the  Indian 
in  a  low  voice.  "It  is  evident  what  I  was  going  to 
do.    The  money  and  the  wife." 

But  before  Branton  could  answer  to  this  he 
felt  a  little  rush  of  air  and  then  a  swift  descend* 
ing  blow  and  he  knew  no  more. 


As  Karina  heard  the  word  which  dealt  her  a 
death  blow  she  stopped  for  a  moment.  She 
thought  there  was  something  familiar  in  the 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  95 

voice  of  the  man,  but  who  it  was  she  could  not 
tell,  only  she  knew  that  he  was  tall  and  with  a 
handsome  form.  She  heard  his  command  and  sud- 
denly a  thought  flashed  into  her  mind.  She  had 
on  butismalljslippers,  so  soft  that  they  might  not 
make  a  noise  when  she  ascended  and  descended 
the  stairs.  She  made  a  desperate  dash  for  the 
door  and  was  gone.  But  if  Branton  thought  she 
had  gone  to  her  husband  he  was  mistaken.  She 
ran  around  to  the  private  passage  and  opened  the 
conservatory  door  and  brought  a  large  piece  of 
pipe  down  upon  the  head  of  the  young  fellow 
wlio  was  covering  Dr.  Salsya  with  a  revolver. 

*^I've  done  for  him,"  said  she  in  a  low  tone,  "and 

now  to  see  who  he  is.    Ah,  I  thought  I  knew  who 

e  was,  that  Branton,  and  I  took  his  hand  in  mine 

and  bade  him  welcome*   Ah,  sweetheart,  you  are 

not  hurt?" 

"No,  and  you  are  a  brave  woman.  Listen,  I 
hear  footsteps." 

The  footsteps  proved  to  be  Mathew  Dean,  and 
he  was  coming  down  the  stairs,  hearing  what  he 
thought  a  racket  in  the  room  below  him. 

"Karina,"  gasped  he,  "what  are  yoa  doing 


^  DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS. 

here?"  He  was  upon  the  scene  b«fore  the  two 
people  knew  it.  What  was  thea'e  to  do  but  for 
Salsya  to  press  the  trigger  of  JBranton's  revolyer 
and  put  an  end  to  a  loving  old  man.  If  he  had 
not  then  there  would  have  been  an  end  to  the 
woman  anyway.  She  would  have  had  none  of  the 
money,  while  now  at  least  her  one-third  would  be 
hers. 

"You  have  killed  him,  darling,"  murmured 
Mrs.  Dean,  "killed  him  sure,  and  you  will  go  now 
quickly.  Don't  you  see  that  the  servants  will 
soon  know,  and  I  shall  lay  the  blame  upon  him?'' 
end  she  pointed  her  white  finger  at  the  swooning 
Branton. 

The  doctor,  like  Hilda  before  him,  faded  away, 
and  the  woman  was  left  with  the  dead  man  and 
the  burglar  regaining  his  consciousness. 

Then  Elarina  Dean  gave  a  fearful  scream. 
Everyone  in  the  house  ran  to  her  assistance. 
There  was  Branton,  with  his  brains  whirling,  and 
the  dead  broker,  and  Izy  jibbering  out  his  con- 
cern at  coming  too  late  to  help  his  friend.  The 
scene  spoke  for  itself.  No  one  seemed  to  doubt 
the  hysterical  statement. 


DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS.  97 

Branton  was  taken  from  the  chair  to  the 
:  prison.    He  had  the  charge  of  wilful  murder  laid 
i  at  his  door,  and  for  many  days  he  lay  trying  to 
:  regain  his  conscious  mind  that  he  might  realize  ^^ 
i  what  was  coming  to  him.  ^: 


When  the  situation  was  made  known  to  Elsie 
!  and  Hilda  they  both  indignantly  denied  that  Bar- 
;  ney  had  had  anything  to  do  with  the  murder,  but 
I  when  Mrs.  Dean  asked  them  what  he  was  doing 
I  there  in  her  house  at  that  time  of  the  night  they 
had  nothing  to  say. 

Salsya  called  at  the  house  of  mourning,  no  one 
but  the  woman  knowing  that  he  was  there  the 
night  before. 

"Sweetheart,"  murmured  she,  "now  I  am  going 
to  bring  to  you  a  fortune,  providing  one  thing, 
and  that  is  that  the  entire  money,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  my  one-third,  is  left  to  Elsie,  and  if  she 
dies  then  I  shall  get  the  whole  affair.'^ 

"Then  we  will  see  if  the  child  cannot  enter 
upon  her  eternal  sleep  very  soon,'^  laughed  the 
doctor,  but  speaking  in  an  undertone. 


9g  DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS. 

Through  the  day  many  people  came  and  offered 
their  sympathy  to  the  widow,  but  she  asked  to  be 
excused  to  all  but  the  Indian  doctor,  and  while 
they  were  in  their  room  making  plans  for  the 
future  there  was  a  conversation  held  like  this : 

"Listen,  Karina,  have  you  a  girl  in  this  house 
by  the  name  of  Murivale?" 

The  woman  looked  quickly  at  the  man.  Love 
is  ever  jealous  of  a  rival,  especially  if  that  rival 
be  a  beautiful  young  girl. 

"Elsie  has  a  maid  by  that  name,"  said  she. 

"Then  you  must  get  rid  of  her,"  said  the  doctor. 
^^She  has  evidence  against  me  and  knows  that  I 
was  in  the  house  last  night.  I  also  gave  her  father 
a  sleeping  potion  which  sent  him  where  I  am 
going  to  send  Elsie." 

"And  Mathew,"  replied  Karina. 

"Now  that's  bad  taste  to  mention  that,  Ka- 
rina," said  the  doctor,  "but,  never  mind,  I  want 
you  to  help  me  get  this  girl  into  my  hands,  that  I 
might  deal  with  her  as  I  see  best.'' 

"You  do  not  love  her?"  asked  Mrs.  Dean^  her 
eyes  flashing  and  sparkling  like  diamonds. 

"No,  fool,  but  she  knows  enough  to  put  me  in 


* 


DANGERS   OF   Vv^ORKING   GIRLS. 


m 


the  Tombs,  and  not  only  that  but  could  have  me 
«ent  to  the  chair.  You  do  not  care  for  my  wel- 
fare." 

"Indeed  I  do,  darling.  Forgive  me  if  I  am  a 
little  jealous,  but  I  have  you  so  little  with  me 
that  I  wonder  if  I  can  ever  be  like  other  w^omen, 
and  let  you  go  from  me  without  worrying." 

"Love  is  always  that  way,"  replied  the  man, 
thinking  of  the  torture  he  was  now  undergoing 
about  Hilda.  Why  could  he  not  love  this  woman 
with  him,  who  cared  for  him  so  much? 


Downstairs  there  was  being  held  a  council  of 
war.  Poor  Izy  had  gone  that  morning.  Ann 
knew  not  where,  but  there  were  t^ars  in  her  eyes 
when  she  told  Hilda  how  faithless  men  were,  and, 
said  she :  "If  I  ever  get  my  hands  upon  him  then 
will  I  wipe  the  earth  up  with  him.  Why,  he 
fooled  with  my  affections,  and  any  woman  ought 
not  to  stand  that." 
^  "So  they  ought  not,"  growled  the  under  cook, 
but  Hilda  and  Elsie  were  not  interested  in  Izy. 
They  wanted  to  know  what  they  were  going  to  do, 


100  DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS. 

and  Elsie  had  heard  just  a  few  words  between 
her  aunt  and  the  Indian  doctor  and  Hilda  had 
told  her  that  he  was  there  when  the  murder  was 
committed,  and  so  there  must  be  something  done.  \ 

"Now,  Ann,  what  are  we  going  to  do?  Auntie? 
OTITIS  this  house,  and  I  cannot  maJke  her  leave  it. 
Think  of  it,  dear,  I  know  that  you  hate  to  leave 
here,  but  won't  you  come  with  Hilda  and  me  until 
uncle's  will  is  settled,  and  then  we  will  know  just 
what  to  do?  Auntie  tried  to  make  me  believe  that 
uncle  had  left  me  nothing,  but  I  know  better,  for 
he  made  me  promise  that  I  would  tell  no  one  and 
then  he  said  that  he  had  made  me  his  heir  and 
that  the  will  was  made." 

"Won't  you  please  come,  Ann?" 

The  woman  thought  a  moment,  and  then  Hilda 
added  her  entreaties. 

"That  man  upstairs,  of  whom  I  am  so  deadly 
afraid,  is  going  to  try  to  make  me  go  with  him. 
Oh,  sweet  Ann,  won't  you  try  and  save  us?" 

Ann  was  large-hearted  or  she  would  not  have 
felt  the  slight  that  Izy  placed  upon  her.  So  she 
took  her  hands  out  of  the  dough  and  said :  r 

"The  lady  upstairs  may  make  her  awn  bread. 


DANGERS   OF  WORKING  GIRLS.  10>|^ 

for  all  I  care.    Not  anotHer  inouthfi;!  will  sbe 
have  as  far  as  I  am  cono^r^i^t,." ; 

And  trne  to  her  word  was  she,  this  large- 
hearted  Irishwoman.  She  helped  the  girls  pack 
their  little  belongings — what  they  would  need  in 
a  poorer  quarter  than  they  were  now  in,  and  the 
three  left  the  mansion.  Before  going  Elsie  had 
demanded  from  all  the  servants  secrecy,  and  each 
one  loving  the  child  had  promised. 

Salsya  and  Karina  were  earnestly  talking 
when  the  woman  was  called  to  speak  with  a  detec- 
tive who  waited  below. 

Kane  O'Hara  held  out  his  hand  in  sympathy, 
but  upon  looking  closer  at  the  woman  he  made  up 
his  mind  that  she  was  not  true  blue,  so  he  with 
dignity  asked  where  the  murder  was  committed, 
saying  that  he  could  hardly  believe  that  his 
young  college  friend  had  done  the  deed.  But  she 
had  sworn  that  Branton  was  there  with  the 
weapon,  and  that  was  enough. 

After  looking  over  the  scene  Kane  took  himself 
away,  satisfied  that  Mrs.  Dean  was  keeping  some- 
thing back  and  that  she  knew  more  than  she 
willing  to  tell. 


L 


3.02  DANQaSJl^S  OF  WORKING  GIRLS. 

.  Klariiia;  ^aiigfi^d  a^^  she  told  the  doctor  how  she 

had  fooled  the  detective.    But  she  had  not  fooled 

him  so  well. 

"Now  call  up  that  maid ;  I  want  to  see  her."    s^ 
"Before  me?"  asked  Karina  eagerly.  I 

"Of  course,"  impatiently ;  "I  have  nothing  from 

you.    I  have  told  you  why  I  wanted  her.    Now 

hurry." 

When  they  found  the  little  note  Elsie  had  left 

both  the  man  and  woman  felt  that  a  net  was  being 

woven  about  them,  and  struggle  as  they  would 

they  might  not  be  released. 


DANGBRS   OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  IQS 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Onb  morning  not  long  after  the  murder  at  the 
Dean  mansion  Barney  Branton  was  sitting  in  his 
cell.  He  knew  that  all  the  evidence  that  could  be 
gathered  in  the  case  was  wound  about  him,  al- 
though he  sternly  avowed  his  innocence. 

He  had  thought  so  many  times  of  the  little  girl 
and  if  she  believed  that  he  could  do  such  a  things 
but  there  was  no  way  to  find  out 

The  warden  started  him  from  a  reverie  by  say- 
ing that  Detective  Kane  O'Hara  wanted  to  see 
him. 

"Old  man,  I  cannot  realize  that  you  are  in  such 
a  serious  situation."  These  were  Kane's  first 
words,  and  Branton's  first  were,  "Well,  do  you 
believe  this  accusation?" 

The  detective  thought  a  moment.  He  had  had 
much  to  do  with  the  world.    He  knew  that  there 


104  DANGERS  OF  W0BRiN6  GTRLS. 

i 

was  innocence  sMning  out  of  Mils  num's  laee. 
But  it  was  not  his  place  to  tell  Mm  so. 

"I  will  tell  you  later,  Branton,"  said  he,  almost 

I  soothingly,  "but  now  you  will  remember  things 
I 

"  look  dark  for  you,  although  I  gave  my  own  pri- 
vate opinion,  which  if  it  comes  to  anything  I  will 
share  with  you." 

"But  wait,  Kane,  there  is  a  girl  at  that  house  I 
want  to  know  about '^ 

"Miss  Murivale,"  announced  the  warden,  look- 
ing sidewise  at  the  detective. 

Branton's  face  flushed  red.  It  seemed  then 
that  his  great  desire  for  her  had  brought  her  to 
him  when  he  needed  her  most. 

"Hurry  up,  now,  Kane,"  pleaded  Branton,  "I 
want  to  talk  to  her.    What  do  you  want?" 

"That  you  should  come  with  Mike  Haggerdy 
this  afternoon,  and  answer  me  some  questions." 

"All  right,  all  right,  but  for  heaven's  sake  go 
now,  now  I  say,"  almost  shouted  Branton,  for  it 
seemed  to  him  that  Hilda  was  being  kept  so  long 
that  she  would  go  home  before  she  could  be 
brought  to  him. 

When  she  came  stumbling  past  him,  and  slight- 


DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS.  IQS 

Ij  drew  her  veil  one  side,  he  noted  with  a  stapt 
what  a  beautiful  girl  she  was,  so  sweet  and  inno- 
cent looking, 
i  "Branton's  a  lucky  dog  and  no  more  guilty  of 
I  that  crime  than  I  am,  but  I'll  find  the  one  if  it 
takes  me  ,a*  thousand  years." 

He  forgot  that  such  a  long  time  was  out  of 
reach  of  mortal  man,  and  even  if  it  were  given  to 
him  to  live  that  number  of  years  that  Branton 
would  be  past  needing  his  help  and  pretty  little 
Hilda  would  long  ago  have  been  gathered  to  her 
fathers. 

But  Kane  had  a  large  heart  and  was  not  the 
suspicious  man  that  most  fellows  would  have 
been  tolding  his  job. 

He  would  like  to  have  seen  the  girFs  recep- 
tion from  the  young  prisoner,  but  it  was  not  much 
on  the  surface.  Branton  put  his  hand  through 
the  bars  and  took  the  girFs  hand  silently  in  his. 
The  large  tears  welled  into  her  eyes  and  Hilda 
cried  silently  for  a  while,  while  Branton  tried 
manfully  to  keep  down  his  grief.  He  did  not 
worry  for  himself  but  for  her.    He  despaired  of 


206  DANGERS   OF  WORKING  GIRLS. 

making  her  believe  in  his  innocence,  for  sureljr 
she  had  come  to  him  from  pure  gratitude. 

But  her  first  words  put  him  in  the  seventh 
heaven  of  bliss, 

"I  wanted  you  to  know  just  how  innocent  I 
think  you  are  of  this  deed  they  have  accused  you 
of.  If  it  had  not  been  for  some  trouble  we  have 
had  I  would  have  been  here  the  first  day  you  were 
in,  but  Ann  told  me  you  were  ill.  What  made 
you  so?" 

"I  think  someone  struck  me  on  the  back  of  my 
head.  But  I  want  to  tell  you,  Miss  Hilda,  that  T 
appreciate  your  faith  more  than  anyone's  in  all 
the  world.  How  sweet  of  you  to  come  to  me! 
Little  girl,  I  am  going  to  make  you  see  that  I  am 
innocent.  But  it  will  be  some  time  before  I  can 
be  brought  to  trial.  In  the  meantime  will  you 
tell  me  one  thing?   Do  you  love  me?'' 

Hilda  opened  her  eyes  wide.  She  knew  that  in 
her  heart  she  loved  this  man,  but  he  was  dar- 
ing much  to  ask  her  this  in  the  prison,  and  some- 
how she  loved  him  all  the  more.  Promptly  she 
thrust  her  fingers  through  the  bars  and  took  his 
hand  in  hers. 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  JOT 

"I  do  love  you,  Barney  Branton,  and  I'm  going 
to  stand  by  you  until  you  need  me  no  mora" 

"And  that  will  never  be,  my  sweetheart,  for  the 
longer  I  live  the  more  I  shall  need  ajid  love  you.'' 

Then  he  told  her  how  many  times  he  had  long- 
ed for  her,  how  many  times  he  had  said  to  him- 
self that  he  would  find  her. 

And  the  girl  blushed  painfully  when  she  ad- 
mitted that  she,  too,  had  longed  for  him. 

"Now  then,  you  are  my  little  sweetheart,  eh?'* 

"Yes." 

"And  when  I  am  free  you  will  marry  me?*' 

"Oh,  yes." 

"Then  I  am  as  good  as  free,  for  a  man  more 
innocent  never  sat  before  a  jury,  and  I  shall  prove 
that  to  you  when  I  come  to  trial.  And  now  may, 
God  bless  you,  my  darling." 

She  went  out  with  eyes  overflowing  with  tears. 
The  water  seemed  to  well  out  in  rivers  when  she 
thought  of  him  being  alone  in  his  trouble,  but 
how  handsome  and  smiling  he  looked  as  she  took 
her  last  glance  at  his  face. 

♦         ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ 

In  the  mansion  many  a  council  was  held. 


^Qg  I>ANGERS   OP  WORKING   GIRL4S.  ^ 

Where  had  th^e  people  flown  to?  Karina  was' 
sure  that  Ann  had  gone  mth  the  girls. 

"To  find  that  maid  is  to  find  the  girls.'' 

"That  is  the  trouble,  to  find  her.  They  have 
^'seemed  to  have  fallen  from  the  earth.  I  wonder 
where  they  are?" 

"Somewhere  in  the  poor  quarter.  Do  you  know, 
I  tried  to  get  it  from  Elsie's  lawyer  where  she 
was,  yesterday,  and  he  coolly  told  me  that  I  did 
not  want  Elsie  nor  she  me,  so  what  could  I  do?" 

Questioningly  the  woman  looked  at  the  doctor, 
who  gnashed  his  teeth.  He  could  not  bear  to  have 
this  girl  he  loved,  alone,  somewhere  he  knew  not, 
and  then,  too,  the  fear  that  she  would  give  away 
his  secret.  She  might  appear  at  the  trial  of  Bran- 
ton  and  swear  that  she  had  seen  Dr.  Salsya  there, 
and  what  would  that  mean  to  them  both? 

As  he  gave  out  his  fears  to  Mrs.  Dean  she  looked 
thoughtfully  into  the  fire. 

"Did  you  not  tell  me  that  this  woman  was  an 
Irishwoman?"  asked  the  doctor  after  a  while. 

"Yes,"  admitted  Mrs.  Dean  curiously. 

"Then  I  believe  I  could  find  her  with  the  help 


DANGERS   OF  WORKING  GIRLS.  X09 

of  a  good  detective.  She  will,  being  a  Catholic, 
attend  some  church.  Now  do  you  know  any  here?'' 

"Yes,  the  same  that  I  attend." 

"Then  they  are  as  good  as  found.  With  all 
that  there  is  upon  your  heart,  my  dear  Karina, 
you  would  go  every  week  to  your  priest,  would 
you  not?'' 

"Indeed  I  would.'' 

"Then  we  will  give  Ann  the  same  credit  and  the 
little  Elsie  is  dea^,  and  Hilda  Murivale  either 
dead  or  sold  into  a  slavery  worse  than  death. '^ 

Long  ago  he  had  told  this  woman  of  his  method 
of  gathering  a  fortune.  At  first  she  did  not  like 
the  idea  of  having  him  among  pretty  women,  but 
when  he  showed  her  the  scratches  upon  his  face 
and  confided  how  the  girls  screamed  and  refused 
even  food,  she  came  to  the  conclusion  that  there 
was  no  danger. 


Sunday  morning  Ann  called  to  the  girls,  who 
were  sleeping  upstairs,  that  she  was  going  to 
church. 


110  DANGERS   OF  WORKING   GIRLS. 

"Don't  be  gone  long,  Ann/'  called  out  Hilda, 
"for  we  are  afraid  without  you." 

"Don't  you  worry,  my  little  pigeons,"  yelled 

I  back  the  woman ;  "you  are  as  safe  as  if  you  were 

in  your  mothers'  arms.     Now  hush  and  don't 

make  any  noise,  and  I'll  be  back  after  saying  a 

prayer  or  two." 

Poor  Ann  was  absolutely  innocent  as  to  lead- 
ing her  dear  ones  into  trouble.  She  went  meekly 
to  •church  saying  her  beads  reverently  as  she 
walked,  but  on  her  way  back  she  did  not  notice 
the  shadowy  figure  that  followed  her  to  the  house 
door  and  discreetly  took  the  number. 


Ann  found  her  girls  sleeping  still  when  she  got 
back  from  church,  and  she  went  about  happily 
getting  breakfast. 

All  that  day  and  the  next  she  stayed  home>  but 
toward  night  ventured  to  the  market. 
I     "Can't  we  go,  too,  Ann?"  begged  Elsie,  but  the 
good  woman  said  no. 

"Then,  don't  be  gone  long,"  was  the  answer. 


DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS.  Jj;  J 

and  that  was  what  Hilda  usually  called  after  her 
faithful  friend. 

She  had  not  been  gone  but  a  moment  when 
Elsie  said  quickly,  "I  wonder  if  we  thought  to 
tell  Ann  to  get  coffee  and  butter.  Oh,  what  fool- 
ish girls  we  were,  and  she  will  now  blame  us 
for  it" 

"So  she  will.  I'll  tell  you  what  I'll  do,  I'll  run 
after  her  and  tell  her  and  won't  be  gone  but  a 
moment," 

"No,  let  me  go,  Hilda,"  begged  the  little  lame 
girl,  "for  I  am  not  as  pretty  as  you  are  and  won't 
attract  as  much  attention." 

So  Elsie  put  on  her  hat  and  was  off.  Hilda 
watched  her  limping  down  the  street,  and  little 
did  she  know  the  place  where  she  would  again  see 
her. 

"I  wonder  which  way  she  went,"  muttered 
Elsie  as  she  headed  toward  the  store  where  they 
often  traded ;  "if  not  here,  then  I  know  where  she 
is.  What  a  foolish  girl  I  was  not  to  think  of 
that!" 

Suddenly  she  felt  something  pressed  over  her 
face.    She  could  not  tell  just  what  it  was,  but 


X12  DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS. 

something  so  sickening  that  she  could  not  scream 
an^  lost  all  power.  She  did  not  see  the  large  full 
red  face  that  bent  over  her,  nor  did  she  hear  an 
almost  sympathizing  tone  as  a  voice  whispered : 

"Poor  little  thing ;  she  is  lame  and  not  pretty. 
I  wonder  what  master  wants  her  for.  I  wish  I 
knew  whether  my  sister  was  lame.  No,  no,  she 
was  not,  I  know.  Oh,  heaven,  I  wish  I  did  re- 
member." 

But  he  did  not  hesitate,  but  put  the  child  into 
a  cab  and  drove  off  with  her.  Hardly  had  he  done 
this  and  reached  the  corner  but  he  called  to  a 
slouching  Chinaman  standing  near: 

"Here,  Lee,  come  here.  Take  this  girl  to  the 
den  and  put  her  carefully  in,  and  stay  by  the 
door." 

Then  he  went  back  and  saw  a  man  and  woman 
standing  near  the  place  where  he  had  taken  the 
girl  from. 

"I'll  go  and  tell  her  that  Elsie  has  been  hurt,'^ 
said  the  woman. 

"True  it  will  be,''  laughed  her  companion,  "for 
Elsie  will  be  hurt  the  moment  she  enters  that 
cage.    Her  little  heart  will  be  broken.'^ 


DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS.  j[l3 

^^And  her  uncle  had  made  a  fool  of  her  ever 
since  she  had  been  with  us.  The  poor  little  fool, 
little  did  Mr.  Dean  think  that  his  idol  would 
come  to  this." 

Saying  this,  she  drew  a  veil  closely  over  her 
face  and  knocked  timidly  at  the  door. 

Hilda  inside  heard  and  ran,  thinking  that  Elsie 
was  playing  with  her.  There  was  standing  a 
woman  before  her  so  darkly  dressed  that  it  al- 
most took  her  breath  to  look  at  her. 

"What  do  you  want?"  asked  she,  holding  the 
door  tightly,  so  the  woman  could  not  push  it 
open. 

"Are  you  Miss  Hilda?"  cried  the  affected  voice; 
"oh,  little  Miss  Elsie  has  been  run  over  by  the 
cars.    Come  to  her,  pretty  little  miss." 

These  words  were  said  with  a  jerky  French 
accent.  Hilda  felt  the  world  turning  around 
with  her.  She  put  out  her  hand  pathetically. 
Oh,  what  more  could  happen  to  two  loving  girls 
so  persecuted?  Go  to  Elsie?  Of  course  she  would 
seek  out  the  little  girl  who  had  been  such  a  friend 
to  her  in  her  need. 


114  DANGERS   OF  WORKING  GIRLS. 

"I  will  come,  madam,"  shouted  she,  "so  I  will, 
but  wait  until  I  get  my  hat." 

Oh,  Ann,  why  do  you  not  make  your  feet  hurry 
faster,  that  you  might  save  one  of  your  darlings? 
Why  do  you  not  walk  with  more  rapidity,  but  you 
are — too  late. 

Hilda  had  left  the  door.  The  same  slouching 
sailor  was  waiting,  only  that  he  had  a  cabman's 
hat  on.  Hilda  gave  him  a  terrible  look  as  she 
entered  and  that  expression  startled  the  man  so 
that  he  gave  a  great  cry. 

"Oh,  master,"  cried  he,  "not  this  one;  there  is 
something  so  good  about  her.  I  had  a  sister 
•nee " 

The  doctor  never  allowed  him  to  get  farther 
than  that — ^never  allowed  him  to  think  long  upon 
the  virtues  of  life. 

He  stepped  to  the  cab,. snapping  the  door  upon 
the  now  fainting  Hilda. 

"Come,  come,  Charlie,  don't  be  a  fool !  Down 
with  you  there !" 

He  gave  the  poor  wounded  skull  a  terrible  push 
and  the  bone  penetrated  the  sensitive  brain,  and 


DANGERS   OF  WORKING   GIRLS.  H^ 

with  a  fearful  cry  the  young  slave  followed  hi» 
master's  call. 

"Drive  now  as  you  have  never  driven  before^ 
Do  you  hear?^' 

Karina  was  in  the  carriage,  and  it  was  with  all 
lier  might  that  she  kept  Hilda  from  jumping  out* 

"Don't  be  a  fool,  girl,"  snarled  the  woman; 
^^you're  with  me,  and  you  cannot  get  away.  Don't 
be  afraid  that  you  will  not  be  nicely  taken  care 
of.'' 

Hilda  sobbingly  held  out  her  hands. 

"Oh,  for  the  love  you  bear  your  own  mother  if 
you  have  one,  or  your  child,  or  whoever  you  love, 
I  pray  you  to  let  me  go.  Think  of  it,  I  am  only  a 
young  harmless  girl,  and  that  man's  face  I  saw  at 
the  cab  is  like  the  devil.  Oh,  I  will  get  out  of 
here." 

"Will  you?"  sneered  Karima;  "will  you?  well, 
you  just  try  it.  These  doors  are  locked,  and  no 
one  can  open  them  from  the  inside." 

Hilda  sank  back  with  a  cry.  She  knew  that 
she  was  being  held  by  force,  but  where  she  wa» 
going  to  she  knew  not. 

"The  moment  that  door  opens  you  keep  your 


IIQ  DANQBH*   OF  WORKING   GIRLS. 

mouth  shut  unless  you  want  to  be  taken  into  a 
drug  house  and  tortured.  If  you  know  when  yon 
are  well  off  you  will  shut  up.'' 

But  Hilda  did  not  take  the  advice,  for  nOa| 
sooner  had  the  cab  come  to  a  stop  but  that  she  ^ 
appealed  to  the  driver,  the  sailor. 

"Oh,  haven't  you  a  sister  of  your  own,  man?'^ 
cried  she.  "How  dare  you  in  the  sight  of  God  do 
such  dreadful  things?" 

The  doctor  was  following  after  in  another  cab. 
But  before  he  got  there  he  saw  a  tragedy  enacted 
uppn  the  street. 

"A  sister?"  gasped  Charlie.  "Yes,  before  the 
war,  but  I  cannot  remember;  a  sister?  Yes,  a 
sister !" 

But  he  was  given  no  time  to  remember.  The 
doctor  had  sent  another  terrible  press  of  his  brain 
medic|ne  with  his  thumb,  and  Charlie  gathered 
the  screaming  girl  up  in  his  arms  and  took  her 
into  44  Pell  street.  The  Chinaman  opened  the 
door,  and  the  screaming  girl  was  taken  to  the  cell. 
A  policeman  ran  down  the  street,  but  all  was 
quiet  when  he  came  along. 


DANOBR6  OF  WORKING  GIRL6.  V        Wf 

^l  thought  I  heard  a  girl  c^/'  said  Mike  Hag- 
gerdy.    "I  truly  did." 

But,  like  all  policemeQ,  he  was  a  little  late. 
The  act  was  finished  and  the  curtain  descended  . 
upon  one  of  the  most  atrocious  wrongs  ever  com- 
mitted in  New  York  City. 


][13  DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRL& 


CHAPTEE  VIII. 

When  the  strong  arms  released  Hilda  she 
came  into  a  blaze  of  light.  The  room  whirled  be- 
fore her  and  she  held  out  her  hands  imploringly. 
The  sight  of  her  abject  misery  brought  a  laugh 
from  Karina. 

"Oh,"  cried  she,  "you  will  be  so  high  and 
mighty  with  your  airs  and  dignity !  Well,  a  posi- 
tion like  this  takes  them  out,  doesn't  it,  old  lady? 
You're  not  so  hard  to  manage  after.  Look,  Salsya^ 
she  has  taken  the  skin  off  my  finger." 

Karina  held  up  a  small  finger  which  looked  red 
and  bleeding. 

Just  as  she  said  this  Hilda  gained  her  eyesight 
so  that  she  could  see  the  terrible  cage  near  her^ 
with  its  crying,  wriggling  mass  of  human  beings. 
Once  long  ago  she  had  been  traveling  with  her 
father  in  Russia  and  she  had  seen  a  train  full  of 
exiles  on  their  way  to  Siberia.    She  shuddered 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  HQ 

and  trembled  until  Karina  laughed  again,  and  a 
small  voice  piped  out  from  the  cage : 

"You  think  you're  smart,  don't  you,  Karina? 
Well,  I  hope  where  Hilda  bit  you  will  swell  up 
and  you'll  die  of  hydrophobia.  That's  what  comes 
to  all  bitten  dogs." 

Hilda  looked  and  there  lay  little  Elsie,  her  eyes 
swollen  with  weeping  and  her  crutch  stretched 
beside  her. 

"Oh,  Elsie,  are  you  there?"  cried  she.  "Oh,  you 
foul  woman,  have  you  taken  a  lame  child  and  put 
her  in  a  place  like  that?   I  hope — I  hope ^" 

But  words  failed  her.  She  could  not  bring  to 
her  mind  a  fate  bad  enough  that  she  wished  upon 
Karina  for  her  terrible  deed. 

"Oh,  youth  and  innocence,  lameness  and  noth- 
ing short  of  death  would  stay  the  hands  of  such 
criminals,"  said  a  deep  rich  voice  from  the  cor- 
ner, and  Hilda  looked  and  saw  the  girl,  half-lying 
and  half-sitting  up,  and  her  eyes  carried  an  ex- 
pression which  boded  no  good  to  the  man  whom 
she  hated. 

"No  one  asked  you  to  speak,  saucy,"  answered 


120  DANGERS   OP  WORKING  GIRLS. 

Karina,  going  closer  to  the  cage  and  shaMng  a 
small  riding  whip  at  the  speaker. 

**I'll  ask  permission  to  give  yon  a  beating," 
I  idded  she. 

'  The  girl  sprang  to  the  bars.  She  allowed  her 
glowing  eyes  to  rest  upon  Karina,  who  had  never 
seen  such  a  thing  before. 

"You  think  you  could  make  me  beg  of  you,  you 
she-devil?  Make  me  plead  for  a  life  that  I 
wouldn^t  give  that  much  for  after  you've  done 
with  it?"  and  the  girl  gave  a  venomous  snap  of 
her  fingers.  "Don't  you  think  you've  got  a  child 
to  play  with  in  having  me.  I'm  a  woman  and  I 
can  down  a  woman  every  time." 

The  terrible  force  which  was  used  in  this  sen- 
tence made  Karina  cower  down  before  it,  but 
realizing  that  a  heavy  bolt  stood  between  her  and 
the  raging  girl  she  gave  a  little  laugh  and  walked 
away. 

"You  see  she  goes,  girls,"  cried  the  dark  girl; 
"she's  a  coward,  you  can  see  that  she's  bad  all 
^through." 

Karina  turned  about  at  the  taunting  words, 
but  straightened  herself  as  she  heard  Hilda  beg : 


DANGKRS  OP  WORKING  ©IRLS.  %2l 

"Oh,  Karina,  let  Elsie  and  I  get  out  of  hBjp% 
and  we'll  promise  to  be  out  of  your  way.  Blsi« 
will  let  you  have  all  the  money  if  you  wish  it." 

"Oh,  she  will,  will  she?  Well,  I  guess  I  shall 
have  the  money,  all  of  it,  too,  and  don't  you  forget 
it.    That's  just  why  you  are  here." 

"And  that's  why  you  and  that  doctor  killed  my 
poor  uncle,  Karina?"  asked  Elsie,  spurring  her- 
self to  say  something  which  would  make  the  girl 
cringe;  "but  you  didn't  know  that  there  was  a 
witness  that  saw  you  both  do  it,  did  you,  Ka- 
rina?" 

Elsie  had  hobbled  to  the  front,  and  her  pert 
little  tear-stained  face  made  grimaces  at  the 
woman. 

Karina  gave  a  great  start  as  she  heard  the 
words. 

"You  little  evil  croaking  hag,"  cried  she, 
^*what  do  I  care  about  you?  All  I  want  is  your 
money,  and  you  will  go  with  the  rest  of  the 
cattle." 

"No,  no,  Karina,  listen,"  cried  Hilda.  "If  you 
will  let  poor  little  Elsie  out  and  let  her  alone,  you 
can  do  what  you  want  to  with  me.    Oh,  please. 


122  DANGERS   OP  WORKING   GIRLS. 

the  child  is  lame  and  so  delicate.  Don't  subject 
her  to  a  fate  worse  than  death.'' 

"Oh,  we  can  do  what  we  want  to  with  you,  can 
we?"  laughed  Karina  loudly.  "How  very  kind 
you  are!  And  pray,  how  could  you  help  yourself 
even,  in  any  case?  Just  be  thankful  that  you 
have  a  few  hours  to  live." 

Dr.  Salsya  walked  out  as  she  said  this. 

"Come  away  from  there,  Karina,"  cried  he; 
"you'll  get  those  girls  in  such  a  tearful  state  that 
there  can  be  nothing  done  with  them.  Now  come, 
do." 

"I'd  like  to  give  that  pretty  face  of  hers  a  long 
slash,"  yelled  she.  "There  is  something  about  the 
girl  I  hate.  I'll  get  even  with  you  some  time, 
miss." 

The  dark  girl  in  the  corner  pulled  at  Hilda's 
sleeve. 

"Don't  answer  her.  Let  her  beat  out  her  rage 
on  the  other  side  of  the  bars.  What  do  you  care? 
She  will  not  dare  to  hurt  you,  and  if  a  man  comes 
around  do  as  I  did,  walk  to  the  bars  and  give  his 
face  a  good  scratch.  It's  only  men  that  women 
need  be  afraid  of." 


DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS. 


12S 


Karina  was  whispering  to  Dr.  Salsya. 

"I'm  going  to  take  out  that  girl,  Hilda,"  said 
he  obstinately. 

"Take  her  out  where?"  asked  Karina,  her  large 
eyes  searching  the  face  of  her  lover.  "Why  is  she 
better  than  the  rest?" 

"Worth  more  money  because  she  is  prettier,'^ 
was  the  answer. 

<*Do  you  love  her?"  gasped  Karina,  with  a 
woman's  intuition.  "I  believe  you  do.  How  dare 
you?  how  dare  you?" 

Anything  that  aroused  the  terrible  jealous 
power  in  Karina's  breast  the  doctor  was  afraid 
of.    He  feared  that  she  would  make  him  trouble. 

"Don't  be  a  fool,  Karina,"  soothed  he;  "you 
know  there  is  no  other  woman  in  the  world  for 
me  but  you.  Now  don't  work  yourself  into  a  state 
of  nervous  excitement." 

"Then  why  should  that  girl  be  petted  and  the 
[others  left  to  rot  in  that  vile  cage?" 

"She'll  not  be  petted,  don't  you  fear;  but  a 
man  is  coming  to-night  who  will  pay  a  good  price 
for  her.  He  has  his  private  yacht,  and  he  and 
Charlie  will  see  that  she  reaches  it.    This  night  or 


124,  DANGERS   OF  WORKING  GIRLS. 

to-morrow  will  see  her  gone.     Won't  you  like 
that?" 

^^More  than  I  can  express,"  answered  Karina 
with  satisfaction.  "She  cannot  go  too  soon  to 
please  me." 

So  this  was  how  Hilda  was  removed  from  the 
cage  and  taken  to  an  upper  room,  where  she  was 
left  alone.  The  doctor  gave  positive  orders  that 
no  one  should  go  in  to  see  her  but  himself  and 
Charlie. 

Karina  had  to  content  herself  with  Elsie,  much 
as  she  desired  that  Hilda  should  be  the  butt  of 
her  abuse. 

"I'm  going  to  see  O'Hara,  Karina;  do  you  want 
to  come?" 

When  the  policeman  came  with  an  order  that 
Barney  Branton  should  be  taken  to  the  detec- 
tive's office  the  young  man  only  too  willingly 
went.  There  was  something  in  the  eyes  of  O'Hara 
that  made  him  think  that  that  young  man  be- 
lieved in  his  innocence. 
1^  Mike  Haggerdy  eyed  the  young  fellow  as  he 
ftook  him  out. 

"He  don't  seem  like  a  criminal,"  muttered  he 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  ]_25 

to  himself.  "I  believe  he's  innocent,"  and  when 
Mike  Haggerdy  once  got  that  idea  in  his  mind 
he  could  no  more  get  it  out  than  the  world  could 
turn  twice  in  twenty-four  hours.  If  every  juror 
should  decide  against  Bran  ton,  Haggerdy  would  ^ 
still  believe  he  had  not  committed  the  deed. 

O'Hara  was  awaiting  the  young  prisoner. 

"Branton,  as  soon  as  I  have  found  you,  so  soon 
do  I  lose  you  again.  Why  did  you  get  yourself 
into  this  infernal  muss?'' 

"Fate,"  replied  Branton  shortly. 

"Aye,  fate,  but  we  weave  our  own  fate.  So  you 
were  at  the  Dean  mansion  that  night  after  I  left 
you?" 

"Was  I?"  asked  Branton  slowly,  eyeing O'Hara 
critically. 

"So  it  is  averred.  I  was  asking  you.  Now  why 
were  you  there?    With  a  motive  to  murder?" 

"I  shall  leave  that  for  you  to  prove,"  replied 
Branton. 

"Don't  be  too  cool,  Brantcn,"  pleaded  O'Hara ; 
"it  looks  so  confoundedly  heartless.  Are  you 
made  of  iron?" 

"Not  quite,  Kane,"  replied  Barney;  *^ut  I've 


X26  DANGERS   OF  WORKING   GIRLS. 

done,  nothing  to  be  afraid  of,  so  why  should  I 
show  nervousness?" 

"But  your  position,  man,"  cried  the  detective. 
"Why,  Branton,  I  believe  I  am  now  trembling 
more  than  you  are.  Oh,  man,  what  have  you 
done?" 

"Nothing." 

Kane  sat  with  his  feet  crossed,  looking  intently 
at  the  prisoner. 

"I  cannot  make  you  out,  boy,"  said  he  after  a 
w  hile.  "Here  you  are  accused  of  a  terrible  mur- 
der, and  you  are  the  calmest  one  among  those  con- 
cerned.   Heavens,  I  wish  I  could  read  you." 

"It  is  not  hard  work,"  replied  Barney;  "I  am 
innocent." 

"But  how  to  prove  it?"  cried  Kane. 

"That's  not  your  business,"  said  Branton,  slow- 
ly leaning  far  over  the  table  and  looking  into  the 
deep-set  eyes  of  the  detective;  "your  part  of  the 
affair  is  to  prove  me  guilty." 

"True,"  ejaculated  Kane,  "and  that  is  what  I 
would  rather  not  do.  I  would  rather  be  whipped, 
old  fellow." 

"And  you  will  have  a  very  hard  time  of  it. 


DANGERS   OP  WORKING   GIRI^.  1^ 

Kane,"  said  Bran  ton,  "for  there  were  others  that 
saw  viiat  y>  cut  on.  While  I,  who  was  there,  know 
nothing,  I  am  sure  that  a  kindly  fate  has  not 
1  death  in  store  for  me,  especially  as  I  was  not  the 
murderer." 

Kane  shuddered.  This  extremely  handsome 
young  fellow^  was  as  calm  as  if  he  were  at  a 
party.  But  then,  it  was  his  own  duty  to  make 
him  appear  guilty. 

"Look  a-here,  Branton,"  and  Kane  became  very 
confidential,  "come  closer  to  this  table.  I  really 
want  to  talk  with  you." 

"All  right,  old  man." 

"Now  that  knife,  that  paper  knife  there,  hand 
it  to  me,  will  you?"  and  Kane  took  up  a  letter  as 
if  to  open  it. 

Cranton  bent  over  and  took  the  knife  in  hts 
Lagers. 

"Not  that,  Branton,"  cried  Kane;  "lay  it  down 
quick.  It  has  upon  it  the  blood  of  the  man  you 
murdered,  Mathew  Dean." 

I     But,  instead  of  dropping  the  knife,  Branton 
'  only  looked  at  it  keenly. 

"Was  that  the  knife  that  killed  the  poor  old 


I 


;|^g  DANGERS   OP  WORKING  GIRIA 

uaan?''  said  he  slowly,  turning  it  over  aoid  o^^» 
"H«  did  not  deserve  it,  did  he?" 

Kane  dropped  his  head  upon  the  table. 

"I  tried  that  for  a  ruse,"  said  he,  "only  to  make 
you  admit  that  you  killed  him.  Branton,  you  act 
like  an  innocent  man." 

"As  I  am,"  said  Branton,  dropping  the  knife 
and  settling  back  in  his  chair. 

Kane  tried  several  other  things  to  frighten  the 
young  man  into  confessing  his  guilt,  but  he  did 
not  succeed.  And  Branton  was  still  talking  over 
this  matt^  when  the  door  opened  and  the  guard 
announced,  "Mrs.  Dean  and  Dr.  Salsya." 

"Ah,  so  you  have  the  murderer  here?"  cried  the 
w  Oman,  putting  on  an  air  of  bravado  and  point- 
ing to  Branton, 

Branton  laughed  softly.  He  bowed  low  to  the 
woman. 

"The  murderer  is  here,"  said  he,  "but  you  are 
pointing  in  the  wrong  direction,"  and  he  stepped 
aside  and  looked  significantly  at  the  doctor. 

"Sir,  how  dare  you  say  such  a  thing?"  stormed  ^ 
the  doctor.  "Do  you  accuse  me  of  the  murder  of  i 
Mathew  D^in?" 


DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS.  129 

"I  accuse  you  of  nothing,  but  as  sure  as  God 
made  little  apples,  so  surely  will  you  stand  in  the 
murderer's  dock.  Kane,  allow  him  and  the 
woman  to  see  the  knife  covered  with  Dean's 
blood." 

Branton,  without  waiting  for  the  detective  to 
act,  picked  up  the  bloody  knife.  Although  it  in 
reality  was  not  the  knife  that  the  man  was  slain 
with,  and  both  man  and  woman  knew  it,  for  it 
had  been  a  bullet  that  had  caused  his  death,  still, 
Mrs.  Dean  gave  a  great  cry  when  the  knife  was 
handed  to  her  and  Dr.  Salsya  groaned  loudly. 

"That's  a  guilty  couple,  Kane,"  laughed  Bran- 
ton.    "You  have  the  wrong  man  in  jail." 

All  this  disturbed  O'Hara  very  much.  He  did 
not  want  to  get  the  ill-will  of  Mrs.  Dean  and  her 
lover,  and  yet  he  felt  the  truth  of  the  young  man's 
words. 

"Branton,  go  into  the  other  room  just  a  mo- 
ment until  I  finish  with  them,  and  then  you  may 
come  back,"  and  he  rang  a  bell  which  called  the 
guard  and  Branton  walked  out  with  a  significant 
smile  at  Mrs.  Dean. 

"I  hate  that  man,"  gasped  she  in  a  rage;  "I 


I^Q  DANGERS   OP  WORKING   GIRLS.  f 

hate  him,  and  I'll  spend  every  cent  I  possess  to 
put  him  in  the  electric  chair." 

Kane  stared, 

"Oh,  it  is  a  personal  matter,  is  it,  Mrs.  Dean? 
Why  should  you  hurt  this  young  man?  Has  he 
ever  personally  harmed  you?" 

The  doctor  was  making  severe  gestures  at  the 
woman.  Nothing  escaped  the  clear  eyes  of  the 
detective,  and  then  and  there  he  took  an  oath  that 
Barney  Branton  should  not  suffef  death  for  a 
crime  he  did  not  commit. 

"Is  it  nothing  to  me  that  he  killed  my  dear 
good  husband?"  sobbed  she,  trying  to  put  on  an 
assumed  grief. 

"I  do  not  think  your  grief  is  genuine,  Mrs. 
Dean,"  said  he  in  a  low  tone.  "Please  do  not 
show  it  before  me." 

"Then  I  shall  leave,"  said  she  shortly,  taking 
her  handkerchief  from  a  pair  of  dry  eyes.  "Are 
you  coming,  doctor?" 

"Not  this  moment.  Wait  outside  for  me.  I 
want  to  speak  to  O'Hara." 

When  the  two  men  were  alone  Salsya  sat  down. 
He  was  thinking  deeply. 


DANGERS   OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  131 

"^Now  then,  Kane  O'Hara,  do  you  tliink  that 
hat  man  is  guilty?" 

"I  have  not  thought  upon  that  point  yet." 

"Are  you  going  to  make  him  out  guilty?  I 
mean,  well,  hang  it  all,  how  much  do  you  want  to 
make  him  sit  in  the  hot  seat?" 

Kane  slowly  rose  to  his  feet.  His  face  was  dis- 
torted with  passion. 

"Do  you  mean  that  you  wish  to  corrupt  the 
court  of  the  State  of  New  York  with  gold?  Dr. 
Saisya,  I  do  not  know  how  you  do  in  India,  but  I 
€an  tell  you  this  much,  that  there  are  some  men 
here  tjbat  you  could  not  buy  with  all  your  King's 
Told,  and  I  am  one  of  them." 

Salsya  arose  to  his  feet.  He  had  struck  the 
wrong  man.  He  knew  not  that  a  man  lived  who 
.'ould  not  be  tempted  with  gold. 

"Dr.  Salsya,  I  will  now  tell  you  my  decision : 
I  have  thought  that  it  was  possible  that  Brantou 
was  guilty.  Now  I  know  he  is  innocent,  but  I  am 
not  so  sure  about  some  one  else." 

"Do  you  mean,  O'Hara,  that  you  dare  to  insinu- 
ate that  I  did  that  deed?" 

"No,  not  exactly  that,  but  I  do  say  this :  I  shall 


1^2  DANGERS  OF  WORKING   GIRLS. 

use  all  my  strength  to  free  this  young  man  and  to 
find  the  true  murderer." 

The  dark  face  of  the  Indian  deepened  with 
rage.  His  lips  quivered  under  the  excitement  he 
was  enduring. 

"And  I/'  said  he,  "shall  see  to  it  that  Branton 
suffers  for  the  crime.    I  know  that  he  is  guilty." 

"And  are  your  hands  free  from  stain?"  gasped 
the  detective.  "For  a  long  time  I  have  thought 
that  you  were  interested  in  a  dive  in  Pell  street. 
And  there  they  take  young  and  innocent  girls  to 
give  them  to  beasts  of  men  who  buy  them  body 
and  soul.  If  I  find  this  is  true,  Dr.  Salsya,  you 
will  plead  with  the  State  of  New  York  to  let  you 
die  for  the  murder  that  I  am  not  so  sure  you  did 
not  commit." 

Salysa's  face  was  dark  and  stern.  He  did  not 
answei^  this  for  a  moment,  and  then  muttered : 

"What  do  you  suppose  that  I  know  about  44 
Pell  street?" 

"How  did  you  know  the  number  then?"  asked 

Kane.  i 

•J 

"Why — why — why,  I  heard  you  say  it."  * 

"No,  you  did  not,  for  I  omitted  it  purposely.  I 


DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS.  133 

think  now  that  you  have  given  me  yomr  secret. 
Thank  you  for  the  number  of  the  house." 

The  doctor  muttered  a  great  oath  and  tried  to 
,  laugh  it  off,  but  the  detective  walked  and  opened 
^'  the  door. 

"You  will  go,  and  I  am  satisfied  with  my  in- 
vestigation." 

"You  will  find  that  I  shall  get  even  with  you 
some  of  these  days,  Mr.  O'Hara,"  said  Salsya  as 
he  walked,  muttering,  along. 

Kane  O'Hara  now  was  sure  that  he  was  on  the 
right  track.  He  would  have  given  much  to  have 
been  able  to  have  freed  his  young  college  friend, 
for  if  a  man  were  innocent  in  the  world  it  was 
Branton.  But  the  law  demanded  that  he  should 
be  held  until  another  took  his  plape,  so  he  rang 
the  bell  and  ordered  him  back. 

But  hardly  had  he  been  in  the  room  but  a  mo- 
ment when  a  sudden  cry  went  up  from  the  out- 
side and  Ann  Calahan  rushed  in. 

"Mr.  O'Hara,  have  you  seen  Miss  Elsie  or  Miss 
A  Hilda?  They've  left  me  home,  and  I  know  that 
*  they've  been  stoled,  for  a  little  girl  saw  a  woman 
and  a  man  put  Miss  Hilda  into  a  cab." 


j[34  DANGERS   OP  WORKING  GIRLS. 

Branton  stood  upon  his  feet  and  looked  long^ 
into  the  detective's  eyes. 

O'Hara  realized  that  Barney's  heart  was 
tonched.  There  was  a  pleading  in  the  earnest 
gaze  which  told  him  the  lad's  thought. 

"I  cannot  do  that,  boy,"  said  he,  with  a  very 
white  face. 

"And  I  say  you  must  let  me  go,  Kane  O'Hara,'^ 
cried  Branton,  "for  I  will  find  the  girl  I  love. 
Then  will  I  return  to  you  and  you  shall  prove  me 
guilty  of  the  murder  of  Mathew  Dean  if  you  can.'^ 


DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS.  I35. 


CHAPTEE  IX. 

The  two  men  looked  long  at  each  other,  Bran- 
ton  pleadingly  and  Kane  desperately. 

"Oh,  heavens,  Kane,"  cried  the  prisoner,  "for 
the  sake  of  Old  days  let  me  go  for  a  little  while. 
You  can  rely  upon  me  to  come  back  when  you 
want  me.  Now  my  sweetheart,  the  one  girl  I  love 
better  than  all  the  world,  is  out  somewhere  in  the 
hands  of  her  enemies.  Let  me  go,  please,  I  beg 
of  you." 

"Don't,  Bran  ton;  don't  beg  like  that.  You 
know  I  could  not  let  you  go  without  an  order 
from  the  court.    It  would  be  unheard  of." 

"But  I  must,  I  must." 

Ann  had  made  her  escape,  crying  as  hard  as 
she  could,  her  cries  being  heard  for  a  block 
around. 

So  this  left  Kane  and  Barney  alone.  When  the 
young  prisoner  heard  the  decided  tone  of  the  dc- 


236  DANGERS   OP  WORKING  GIRLS. 

tective  he  seemed  to  lose  all  hope.  He  stood  up 
with  a  desperate  gesture. 

"Kane,  your  heart  is  as  hard  as  adamant.  I 
;  cannot  understand  how  you  can  treat  a  fellow- 
^  being,  much  less  a  friend,  as  you  are  treating 
me." 

"Branton,  that's  cruel,  exceedingly  cruel,  to 
speak  like  that.  You  know  I  have  no  authority  to 
release  you." 

Branton  walked  up  and  down  with  a  terrible 
effort  The  thought  that  Hilda  was  out  at  the 
mercy  of  that  Indian  doctor  almost  paralyzed 
him,  for  had  she  not  confided  to  him  in  the  Tombs 
that  she  was  deathly  afraid  of  him  and  that  he 
had  folloy»^ed  her  from  India,  and  now  she  must 
be  in  his  hands,  or  how  could  a  child  have  seen 
her  being  rushed  into  a  cab? 

He  thought  but  a  moment.  Kane  was  writing 
rapidly.  He  stole  up  behind  the  detective,  and, 
taking  a  small  bottle  marked  chloroform  from  the 
table,  which  had  been  found  among  the  things 
left  by  men  who  had  searched  the  house  of 
Mathew  Dean,  Branton  opened  it  and,  saturating 
his  handkerchief  with  the  contents,  he  held  it  to 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  OIRLS.  ;^f 

the  nose  of  O'Hara.  The  detective  threw  his  eyes 
toward  Branton  as  much  as  to  make  him  under- 
stand that  he  was  being  badly  dealt  with,  but 
A  Branton  had  but  one  image  in  his  mind — his 
ll  little  maiden,  his  Hilda,  in  the  clutches  of  the 
Indian. 

The  two  men  struggled  together  for  a  moment, 
and  Branton  was  rewarded  by  seeing  Kane's  head 
fall  upon  his  breast. 

As  he  struggled  past  the  table  the  detective  had 
just  strength  enough  left  to  fling  out  his  hand 
and  touch  the  bell. 

But  instantly  Branton  had  taken  the  coat  off 
the  helpless  man,  and  jerking  O'Hara's  hat  from 
the  nail  he  stood  for  one  instant  looking  around. 

Then  he  stepped  forward  and  snipped  the  tele- 
phone wires,  and  was  making  his  way  toward  the 
door  when  Haggerdy  opened  it.  He  simply  waited 
long  enough  to  say : 

"I'll  be  back  in  a  moment,  Haggerdy,"  and  out 
he  bolted. 

'What  a  funny  way  for  Kane  to  act,"  muttered 
t^e  policeman,  his  honest  face  portraying  the  sur- 
prise he  felt. 


'jj^  DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS. 

"What  did  he  want  of  me?"  said  he  aloud,  "and 
where  has  that  boy  gone  to?" 

Then  from  the  other  room  came  a  dreadful 
groan,  and  the  policeman  went  into  the  room  on 
a  run. 

There  upon,  the  floor,  coatless  and  wriggling^ 
was  Kane  O^Hara. 

"For  the  love  of  heaven,  Mr.  Kane,"  gasped 
Haggerdy,  "what's  the  matter  with  you?" 

The  detective  could  not  speak.  His  lungs  were 
still  filled  with  the  drug. 

When  Haggerdy  raised  the  detective's  head  he 
saw  that  his  eyes  were  bleared  and  staring,  and 
for  a  little  while  Kane  could  not  speak,  but  when 
he  could  catch  his  voice  he  blurted  out : 

"The  telephone!  Bran  ton  has  escaped.  King; 
the  'phone  and  call  the  police.  Go  after  him, 
Haggerdy.  Ob,  get  him  in  any  way  you  can,  for 
heaven's  sake." 

The  policeman  scratched  his  head  and  in  one 
way  he  was  very  glad  that  the  young  man  was 
free.  He  would  linger  as  long  as  he  could  and  not 
lose  his  own  prestige. 


I 


DANGERS   OF  WORKING  GIRLS.  139 

After  Barney  Branton  left  the  detective's  office 
he  went  rapidly  down  the  street.  Then  he  went 
into  a  public  telephone  office. 

"Izy/'  he  shouted  when  the  receiver  was  an- 
swered at  the  other  end,  "come  to  me  immedi-' 
ately,  and  don- 1  delay ;  it  is  a  matter  of  life  and 
death. '^ 

"  'Tain't  that  Irishwoman,  is  it?"  gasped  Izy^ 
"for  if  you  have  taken  up  her  cause,  then  I  won't 
come.    Say,  how  did  you  get  out?" 

"Never  mind  now,  Izy,  but  you  come." 

And  come  Izy  did,  always  to  do  for  his  best 
friend  all  that  was  asked  of  him. 

"Oh,  Izy,  have  you  any  idea  where  that  Indian 
doctor  hangs  out?"  asked  Branton,  his  white  face 
drawn  into  furrows  of  pain.  "They  have  taken 
both  Elsie  and  Hilda,  and  I'm  almost  out  of  my 
mind." 

"Somewhere  in  Pell  street,  sir,"  replied  Izy  as 
he  wiped  the  perspiration  from  his  damp  brow; 
"I  could  find  the  place  if  I  hunted;  it's  full  of 
those  awful  Mongolians." 

"They  won't  have  a  chance  to  keep  my  sweet- 
heart if  I  get  there,"  vowed  Branton.    "The  very 


;j^40  DANGERS   OP  WORKING   GIRLS. 

idea  of  their  trying  to  keep  her  in  that  prison-like 
place.  Now,  Izy,  to  the  rescue !  If  they  catch  me 
for  the  murder  of  Mathew  they  will  have  to  turn 
faster  than  I  can." 

^Toor  Kane,  it  was  a  mean  trick  to  play  upon 
him,  but  all's  fair  in  love  and  war." 

Together  that  night  they  went  into  the  Bowery. 
And  in  Pell  street  at  an  old  saloon  they  took  a 
room,  and  each  man  kept  watch. 

For  four  or  five  days  Branton  kept  his  vigil  and 
thought  that  there  would  never  be  a  reward  to  his 
patience,  but  one  morning  when  he  was  prowling 
through  Pell  street  he  saw  a  shadow  loom  up  in 
his  path,  and  Haggerdy  stood  at  the  corner,  and 
from  the  other  portion  of  the  street  came  a  female 
figure  dressed  in  the  height  of  fashion.  Branton 
had  noticed  in  the  papers  that  his  escape  was 
being  advertised,  and  before  he  could  hide  from 
view  he  heard  Mrs.  Dean  say : 

"So  I  have  caught  you  at  last.  You  are  not 
going  to  get  out  of  my  fingers  again.  Officer," 
and  she  turned  to  the  now  panting  Haggerdy, 
"you  arrest  that  man ;  he  is  the  murderer  of 
Mathew  Dean." 


DANGERS   OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  14X 

Haggerdy  stared  hard  at  Branton,  and  Barney 
gave  back  the  same  clear  gaze.  The  policeman 
wriggled  in  his  shoes  and  shifted  his  eyes  from 
one  to  the  other. 

"I  think  you  are  mistaken,  madam/^  said  he^ 
^'for  I  know  that  Mr.  Branton,  and  this  man  is 
not  he.'' 

"But  I  insist  that  this  is  he,"  gasped  the 
woman ;  "you  had  better  take  him  in  anyhow,  and 
if  it  does  not  prove  to  be  he,  then  you  will  have 
done  the  best  you  can." 

"And  get  fired  for  making  a  false  arrest?  No, 
ma'am,  that  is  not  the  Barney  Branton  that's 
wanted  at  the  headquarters,  and  so  you  can  go  on, 
young  man." 

Mrs.  Dean  shook  her  head  and  turned  to  see  if 
there  was  another  policeman  in  sight,  and  Hag- 
gerdy whispered  in  the  ear  of  Branton :  "Now 
fly,  old  fellow^,  or  you  will  have  the  devil  after 
you." 

"Thanks,  Haggerdy,  old  fellow,  when  I  find  her 
I  swear  that  I  will  come  back  and  give  you  the 
honor  of  taking  me  to  the  District  Attorney's 
oflSce,  and  you  shall  lose  nothing  by  this." 


142  DANGERS   OP  WORKING   GIRLS. 

And  away  he  went  back  to  his  room,  while  Mrs. 
Dean  was  searching  for  Dr.  Salsya. 

"I  saw  Branton  as  sure  as  I  am  living,'^  cried 
the  woman ;  "I  saw  him  on  the  street,  and  I  tried 
to  get  a  policeman  to  arrest  him,  and  he  would 
not  for  fear  of  false  arrest." 

"Maybe  you  were  mistaken,"  hesitated  Salsya 
with  a  pale  face;  "but  for  fear  he  has  ventured 
too  near  my  lair  1^11  just  fix  the  pretty  bird  so 
that  she  won't  fly  with  him  in  case  anything  hap- 
pens. The  sale  of  the  women  comes  off  to-night. 
Now  that  it  is  firmly  fixed  in  the  mind  of  tlie 
court  that  Elsie  is  dead,  you  will  come  into  the 
money.  We  will  then  go  away  when  you  have 
given  me  over  half  of  the  fortune.  I  think  that  is 
but  fair." 

Karina  looked  at  him  for  a  moment.  Then  she 
said  slowly : 

"There  is  nothing  I  would  not  do  for  you, 
sweetheart,  if  you  will  but  love  me,  but  it  seems 
that  you  are  so  cold  to  me,  and  I  love  you  so,  my 
darling." 

"Oh,  Karina,  don't  make  a  scene,  for  heaven's 
sake.    If  you  love  me  do  not  always  tell  me  of  it.'* 


DANGERS  OF  WORKING   GIRLS.  14.'^ 

"That  is  half  my  life,"  replied  the  woman ;  "you 
can  have  any  amount  of  my  money  if  you  will  but 
give  me  affection  in  exchange." 

"Thanks,"  answered  the  doctor  dryly. 

Salsya  had  determined  that  day  to  have  his 
affair  settled  with  Hilda.  The  girl  would  have  to 
come  to  his  terms,  whatever  he  should  say.  He 
left  Karina  on  a  pretext  and  sought  Hilda.  The 
girl  stood  by  the  wall  looking  out  into  the  night, 
upon  a  large  tin  roof  which  faced  the  other  win- 
dows of  Dr.  SaLsya.  There  was  no  chance  of  get- 
ting a  word  with  anyone.  Once  she  saw  a  China- 
VA'.xn  crawl  from  a  hole  in  the  roof  and  come  into 
ilui  open  air,  but  when  she  peered  up  from  the 
window  to  him  he  only  grinned  and  waved  his 
hand.  When  she  saw  who  her  visitor  was  she 
turned  her  back  and  said  not  a  word. 

"Have  you  no  greeting  for  me,  child?"  said  he. 
"Listen,  I  have  giveii  my  very  life  for  you  and 
endangered  it  in  many  ways.  Why  do  you  worry 
me  always  and  give  me  no  chance  to  show  you 
how  nice  I  would  be?" 

"I  do  not  want  you  to  be  nice  to  me,  only  to 
give  me  my  liberty." 


144  DANGERS   OP  WORKING   GIRLS. 

"And  that  I  cannot  do/'  cried  Salsya,  "for  I 
love  you.    Hilda,  you  will  be  my  wife,  I  insist. 
You  cannot  marry  that  man  Branton,  even  if  you 
love  him.    You  would  not  link  your  life  to  that  of  \ 
a  murderer."  ' 

"I  choose  to  believe  him  innocent." 

Hilda  said  this  in  such  an  intense  voice  that 
Dr.  Salsya  went  close  to  her. 

"I  told  you,  Hilda,  that  Mrs.  Dean  and  I  saw 
him  commit  this  deed." 

"And  I  told  you,"  answered  Hilda,  mimicking^ 
his  tone,  "that  I  would  no  more  believe  the  word 
of  Mrs.  Dean  than  I  would  you ;  so  there." 

"Don't  tempt  me  to  harm  you,  Hilda,"  cried  the 
doctor ;  "you  are  the  most  exasperating  girl  in  the 
world." 

"I  expect  nothing  more  than  that  harm  will 
eome  to  me  through  you,"  said  Hilda  with  a  sigh. 
"You  are  cowardly  enough  to  do  anything  to  a 
girl  who  cannot  give  you  her  heart.  Why  don't 
you  be  satisfied  with  the  woman  who  has  de- 
graded herself  for  you?    Is  not  that  enough?" 

"But  I  do  not  love  her,  Hilda,"  replied  the 
man ;  "you  are  my  ideal  of  a  woman,  and  I  want 


DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS.  I45 

none  other  but  you.  Oh,  how  can  I  live  without 
you?  But  I  do  not  intend  to  try,  for  go  with  me 
jou  shall,  for  if  not  with  your  own  will  you  shall 
with  mine."  | 

"A  man  in  this  age  cannot  take  away  a  girl'L*! 
thought  and  mind,''  cried  Hilda,  "and  I  will  not 
listen  to  you.    You  miserable  man,  you  were  not 
satisfied  to  kill  my  father,  but  I,  too,  must  come 
under  your  blighting  influence." 

"Come  with  me,"  shouted  the  doctor,  and,  tak- 
ing Hilda  fiercely  by  the  hand,  he  drew  her  rap- 
idly after  him  to  a  small  room  which,  to  her 
looked  more  like  a  corridor  than  anything  else. 

"Where  are  you  taking  me  to?  Oh,  have  mercy 
upon  me !"  Hilda  was  a  lusty  young  woman,  and 
she  lifted,  her  voice  and  sent  a  ringing  cry  out  into 
the  rooms  and  Charlie,  the  sailor,  came  out  of  the 
den. 

"You  are  to  turn  on  the  drug,"  said  the  doctor 
to  the  sailor.  "This  girl  will  be  subject  to  me  or 
I  will  know  the  reason  why." 

Charlie  crouched  behind  a  chair  frightened. 
He  thought  that  Salsya  was  coming  toward  him 
with  the  girl. 


1 


146  DANGERS   OF  WORKING   GIRLS. 

He  followed  silently  after  them,  and  Karina 
hearing  the  trouble  came  also. 

"What's  the  matter  with  the  girl?''  asked  she, 
her  eyes  darkening  as  they  lighted  upon  the 
shrinking  Hilda.  "Do  you  want  me  to  give  her  a 
beating?" 

"No,  not  that/'  replied  the  doctor,  "but  some- 
thing better." 

"Why  do  you  allow  me  to  beat  the  others  and 
not  her?"  growled  Karina.  "She  is  no  better  than 
Elsie,  and  I  had  my  own  pleasure  with  her  this 
afternoon.  What  fun  it  was  to  see  that  child 
writhe  and  groan  under  the  lash !" 

"Shame,  shame,"  cried  Hilda.  "Are  you  not 
ashamed  of  yourselves  to  strike  a  lame  child? 
Oh,  may  heaven  deal  with  you  as  you  have  with 
the  helpless  girls  you  have  had  under  your 
charge." 

"I'll  soon  change  your  mind  about  me,"  laugh- 
ed the  doctor.    "Charlie,  turn  on  that  faucet." 

The  sailor  looked  at  the  weeping  girl.  Her 
very  expression  seemed  to  lift  the  haze  from  his 
brain,  and  his  eyes  stared  out  of  his  head,  and<he 
shouted : 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS. 


147 


^'I  will  not  do  so  to  her — any  but  her.  I  will 
not,  master,"  and  then  as  the  poor  silly  fellow 
saw  the  man  coming  toward  him  with  darkening 
brow  and  extended  hand  he  pleaded  : 

"I  will  do  all  you  tell  me  to  any  but  her — oh,  I 
beg  of  you,  I  beg  for  her.  She  makes  me  think 
that  I  had  a  sister  once." 

"Bah,''  shouted  Salsya;  "you  fool,  what  do  you 
mean  by  such  talk?  Do  you  think  that  I'm  going 
to  stand  this  from  you?  Turn  on  that  faucet,  I 
say.''  * 

"No." 

"Turn  it  on,"  and  Salsya  raised  a  large  whip 
which  he  held  in  his  hand. 

"I  will  not." 

"Then  take  that,  and  that,  and  that." 

This  emphatic  remark  was  made  by  the  de- 
scending of  a  whip  upon  the  upturned  face. 

"Don't  turn  it  on  then,  fool ;  I  can  do  it  myself. 
Do  you  think  I  have  no  hands?" 

Saying  this,  he  shoved  Hilda  into  the  corner, 
and  then  pressed  a  little  silver  faucet  which  was 
embedded  in  the  wall. 

Down  over  the  girl's  face  came  a  shower  of 


248  DANGERS   OF  WORKING  GIRLS. 

powder,  little  fine  flour-like  powder,  which  gave 
out  an  aroma  of  sweet  violets. 

"What  are  you  doing?"  cried  the  girl,  turning 
her  face  toward  the  doctor  and  watching    the , 
sailor  with  fascinated  eyes,  who  had  not  yet  risen 
from  the  floor;  "I  don't  like  the  feeling  of  that — 
oh,  what  is  it  doing  to  me?'' 

The  sweet  face  had  grown  strangely  pale.  The 
well-set  head  had  dropped  over  the  shoulders. 

Karina  came  nearer.  She  noticed  the  change 
in  the  girl. 

"You  are  taking  her  mind  from  her  with  that 
stuff,"  cried  she  delightedly.  "Is  that  what  you 
do  with  the  girls?" 

"Of  course.  Do  you  suppose  men  want  those 
scratching  girls  in  the  cell  now.  No,  we  doctor 
them  up  nicely,  and  they  are  as  peaceful  and  play- 
ful as  kittens  and  as  harmless  as  doves.  Now 
watch.  She  will  think  her  enemies  her  friends- 
and  her  friends  enemies." 

Slowly  Hilda  turned  her  bright  eyes  upon  Ka- 
rina, and  a  heavenly  smile  lit  up  tlie  beautiful 
f^ace. 

''Oh,"  cried  she,  "you  are  my  deai ,  dear  friend  ; 


DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS.  14^ 

I  would  kiss  you.  Please  let  me  take  your  hand 
in  mine," 

"Wonderful,  wonderful,"  muttered  Karina  as 
she  allowed  Hilda  to  fondle  her  white  hand. 

"I  thought  I  should  never  see  you  again,"  cried 
the  girl ;  "I  thought  I  never  should.  Oh,  my  sweet 
lady,  let  me  live  with  you." 

And  back  in  the  corner,  mingled  with  the  sweet 
voice,  wasl  the  violent  sobbing  of  the  prostrate 
sailor. 


250  DANGERS  OP  WOEKIN&  GIRLS. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Two  men  could  be  seen  coming  through  the 
Bight  into  Pell  street. 

"I  hope  you  are  not  mistaken,  Izy,"  said  the 
taller  of  the  two.  "Are  you  sure  you  heard  the 
knocks  distinctly?" 

"Sure,  three  sharp  knocks,  and  I  know  just 
how  to  give  them.  You'll  see  the  door  open  and 
the  Chinaman  come  out.  When  that  happens 
then  you  give  him  a  pelt  in  the  head,  and  we'll 
both  go  in.    See?" 

"I  see,  Izy,"  replied  Branton,  "and  I'll  just  rob 
the  Chinaman  of  his  clothes  and  bring  you  with 
me  into  the  den,  and  we  shall  soon  see  if  the  girl 
is  there," 

"Be  careful." 

"I  will." 

"And  don't  let  that  devil  of  an  Indian  suspect 
you  are  there,  or  as  sure  as  my  name  is  Isfdore,  as 
old  Ann  used  to  call  me,  you'll  lose  your  life," 


DANGERS   OF   WORKING   GIRLS.  1^1 

"I'll  watch  that,"  said  Branton,  "for  that  is 
mj  darling's  safeguard,  this  good-for-nothing  life 
of  mine/' 

The  young  man  sighed  as  he  said  this,  and  it 
hurt  him  when  he  thought  of  those  days  in  which 
he  had  made  theft  the  one  ambition  of  his  life. 

They  were  now  in  front  of  a  solemn-looking 
place,  in  the  door  of  which  was  a  small  hole  cot- 
ered  with  a  sliding  window  without  glass. 

Three  distinct  knocks  Izy  gave  upon  the  door. 
Then  it  slowly  opened  and  a  long  pigtail  waved 
in  the  wind. 

"Nobody  here,"  muttered  the  Chinaman,  as  he 
wandered  about,  for  he  could  not  see  our  hero  and 
his  friend,  as  they  had  hidden. 

At  this  moment  the  shambling  form  came 
within  a  short  space  of  Izy  and  Branton,  and  the 
latter  slipped  his  foot  between  the  legs  of  the 
Mongolian  and  tripped  him  up,  and  down  he  went 
to  the  ground.  In  an  instant  Branton  had  him 
stripped  of  his  clothes  and  Izy  had  the  feet  and 
hands  of  the  man  tied  and  had  placed  him  in  a 
coal  hole. 

Then  the  two  men  went  into  the  opium  den  and 


152  DANGERS   OP  WORKING  GIRLS 

closed  the  door.  Our  hero  told  Izy  to  let  him 
proceed  alone. 

He  crawled  into  the  den  and  took  his  place 
among  the  Chinamen,  \(^ho  were  smoking  dope. 

^'Oh,  to  get  sight  of  her,"  said  he  some  time 
after  his  entrance  to  the  house.  "I  suppose  that 
they  will  come  in  here  before  long.  My  heart  is 
beating  so  that  I  can  hear  it." 

He  was  lying  flat  upon  a  bench  where  his  eyes 
could  sweep  the  whole  room,  the  long  cue  hang- 
ing from  under  the  cap,  which  covered  his  entire 
head. 

Suddenly  the  door  opened  and  Hilda  entered 
as  if  in  a  dream.  Salsya  followed.  He  looked 
about  impatiently  at  the  set  of  heavy  sleepers, 
who  were  dozing  and  snoring  in  their  chairs. 
Once  in  a  while  one  would  rouse  himself  enough 
to  take  a  puff  upon  the  pipe,  only  to  sink  again 
into  a  stupor. 

^^Get  up  and  out  of  here,"  shouted  the  doctor, 
dropping  Hilda's  hand  and  arousing  the  men; 
^^get  out  of  here,  I  say." 

Hilda  was  standing  directly  in  front  of  Bran- 
ton.    He  put  out  his  hand  and  softly  touched  her 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  153 

Land  and  she  turned  about  and  looked  at  him 
dazedly. 

j      "Hush,  child,  it  is  I,  Branton,"  said  Barney  in 
a  low  tone ;  "don't  make  a " 

Before  he  could  finish  his  sentence  he  heard  the 
girl  give  a  great  cry.  She  shuddered  and  ran  to 
the  doctor. 

"Oh,  I  am  so  afraid  of  that  awful-looking 
man,"  cried  she.  "He  is  awful.  I  don't  want  to 
leave  you." 

Branton  sank  down  in  a  heap  upon  the  bench. 
He  thought  his  time  had  surely  come. 

"Nor  shall  you  leave  me,  Hilda,"  cried  the  de- 
lighted doctor;  "that  man  hurt  you — that  is 
faithful  Lee.  Why,  he  is  as  harmless  as  a 
chicken."    But  Branton  heard  the  doctor  mutter : 

"That  drug  has  fixed  her,  but  I  would  rather 
have  her  come  to  me  with  her  own  mind  than  like 
this.    It  is  abhorrent  to  me." 

"And  to  me,"  murmured  Branton,  the  fire  leap- 
ing into  his  eyes.     "He  has  drugged  the  poor 
I  child,"  said  he.    "Oh,  if  I  ever  get  my  hands  on 
hii«,  I'll  make  him  suffer  for  that." 

Hilda  dropped  gracefully  into  a  seat  with  the 


lU 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS. 


same  expression  of  surprise  upon  her  fece,  as  if 
the  world  had  changed  for  her, 

"Dear  little  girl,"  whispered  Dr.  Salsya,  "you 
have  no  idea  how  dearly  I  love  you.  Are  you  will- 
ing to  be  my  wife?" 

"Yes,"  muttered  Hilda,  brushing  her  face  with 
her  fingers. 

"Then  you  will  go  with  me  back  to  India?" 

"Yes." 

"And  will  always  be  true  to  me?" 

Hilda's  eyes  sought  his  face  pleadingly,  and 
he?  mind  was  his  as  far  as  his  will  was  concerned, 
but  her  pure  soul  was  struggling  for  its  usual 
atmosphere. 

"Yes,  yes,  I  will  do  what  you  want  me  to,"  said 
she,  leaning  over  and  taking  his  hands  in  hers. 

"Oh,  that  is  heaven,  child,  to  have  you  so  close 
to  me.  I  shall  always  be  good  to  you,  if  when  you 
get  your  senses  you  show  me  any  such  love  as  you 
do  now.  Sweet  child,  forgive  me  for  doing  this^ 
but  you  would  not  let  me  love  you  otherwise." 

Salsya  had  then  perhaps  the  purest  feeling  that 
had  ever  entered  his  breast.    He  was  truly  sorry 


DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS.  155 


that  he  had  been  forced  to  take  the  mind  from 
Hilda  to  make  her  consent  to  his  love. 

But  Branton  had  stood  all  that  was  possible. 
[  He  rose  to  his  feet,  and  with  a  terrible  cry  flashed 
\  hie  arm  between  Hilda  and  the  doctor  just  as  the 
I  latter  was  about  to  take  the  girl  in  his  arms. 
I      "You  shall  not  touch  her,  villain.    I  hate  you, 
hate  you  more  than  words  can  say.    Was  ever  a 
man  so  tried  as  I  am?" 
"And  who  are  you?" 

The  doctor  had  risen  to  his  feet  and  looked 
sharply  at  his  servant,  or  at  least  so  he  supposed. 
"Branton." 
"Ah!" 

Salsya  whipped  out  a  revolver  quickly  and  held 
>  it  up  close  to  Branton's  face.    In  the  ejaculation 
which  burst  from  his  lips  there  was  a  tone  of  de- 
light, and  he  now  had  his  most  dreadful  enemy  in 
his  hands.    What  more  could  he  wish? 
"So  I  have  you ;  now  sit  down." 
Hilda  had  drawn  herself  away  from  the  men. 
Branton  looked  pleadingly  at  her,  but  there  was 
no  response  to  his  intense  expression.     She  ap- 
peared to  consider  him  a  stranger. 


156  DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS. 

"Who  is  be,  dear?"  asked  slie  inaoeentty  of  the 
doctor. 

Salsya  burst  into  a  laugh. 

"Did  you  hear  that,  Bran  ton?  Did  you  hear 
her  call  me  dear,  and  ask  who  you  were?  She 
little  thinks  that  you  were  once  her  lover." 

"Salsya,"  said  Branton,  "I  beg  of  you  to  spare 
that  child.  She  is  innocent,  and  came  all  the 
way  from  India  to  escape  you.  Why  don't  you 
allow  her  to  pass  out  of  your  life?  She  has  never 
done  you  any  harm." 

"No  harm.  I  love  her  madly,  with  all  my 
strength  and  might.  Let  her  leave  me  when  I  am 
on  the  verge  of  happiness?    I  guess  not." 

"Yes,  happiness  wrenched  from  a  girPs  virtue 
without  her  will.  Shame  upon  you.  You  do  not 
realize  what  it  means  to  her." 

"Oh,  don't  I?  Well,  just  listen.  Now  I  am 
going  to  give  myself  a  treat  in  seeing  her  kill  you 
with  her  own  hands.  That  girl  standing  there  is 
completely  under  my  control,  and  she  will  do 
absolutely  whatever  I  tell  her  as  long  as  the  drug 
lasts  that  I  gave  her." 

"And  how  long  will  that  be?"  eried  Branton.    ^ 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  6IR£<S.  ^§7 

"No  telling ;  perhaps  all  day,  or  it  might  lem% 
I  her  at  any  moment." 

"God  grant  that  it  leaves  her  soon,"  groaned 
;  Barney. 

I     "But  listen  to  my  plan.  I  am  going  to  have  this 
igirl  kill  you.    Do  you  hear,  Branton?    Kill  you 
as  if  you  were  a  pig.    Now,  how  will  that  satisfy 
you?" 

"Oh,  God,"  cried  Barney,  "have  you  no  mercy? 
You  kill  me  yourself,  but  do  not  stain  her  pure 
soul  with  such  a  murder  and  without  her  will." 

"Hilda,"  and  the  doctor  took  her  hand  in  his, 
"do  you  see  that  man  there?" 

"Yes,  yes." 

"He  is  your  enemy." 

"Yes,  yes." 

"And  do  you  wish  him  dead?" 

"Yes,  yes." 

The  girl  was  trying  to  brush  the  cobwebs  from 
her  .poor  brain. 

"Then  you  take  this  little  dagger  and  drive  it 
deep  into  his  heart.  Do  you  hear,  as  deep  as  you 
can?" 

"Yes,  I  hear.'^ 


158  DANGERS   OF  WORKING   GIRJ.S. 

It  was  as  if  some  one  had  been  walking  in  her 
sleep.  Hilda  slowly  took  the  dagger  from  the 
Indian's  fingers. 

"Yon  want  to  kill  him,  do  you  not,  Hilda?" 

The  taunting  words  and  the  answer  cut  to  the 
heart  the  youug  fellow  sitting  in  the  shadow  of 
the  raised  revolver. 

"Yes,  I  want  to  kill  him." 

But  Barney  noticed  that  the  words  were 
spoken  in  a  softer  tone  than  before  and  that  there 
was  an  expression  in  the  eyes  of  the  girl  he  had 
not  noted  before. 

"Then  go  away  back  there  by  that  door,"  or- 
dered the  doctor,  "and  come  swiftly  forward  and 
drive  the  knife  into  this  man's  heart." 

Hilda  turned  to  obey  and  Barney's  eyes  were 
devouring  her  precious  figure.  He  could  not  be- 
lieve that  Hilda  would  kill  him,  even  at  the  order 
of  this  Indian. 

She  turned  on  the  spot  where  the  doctor  had 
indicated  and  came  swiftly  toward  the  table  with 
the  knife  upraised.  As  she  reached  the  chair  Bar- 
ney was  sitting  in  she  hesitated  and  then  slowly 
dropped  her  hand. 


DANGERS   OP  WORKING   GIRLS.  Ig9 

"Strike,  strike!"  commanded  the  Indian.  "Do 
you  hear?    Kill  that  man !" 

Branton  expected  to  feel  the  dagger  pressed 
into  his  heart.  But  suddenly  he  saw  come  into 
Hilda's  eyes  a  flash  of  intelligence  and  then  one 
of  rage.  He  knew  that  she  had  regained  her 
senses  somewhat. 

".Kill  him !"  commanded  the  doctor. 
"No,  no,"  shouted  the  girl  sharply,  "not  him^ 
but  you,  you !"  ^ 

She  brought  the  knife  down  upon  the  arm  of 
the  doctor  which  held  the  revolver  and  pinioned 
it  to  the  table. 
|.     Branton   made  a  grasp  for   the  weapon  and 
K'wrenched  it  from  the  Indian's  fingers. 
?     "So  you  will  order  her  to  kill  me?"  said  Bran- 
>n.    "Ah,  Hilda,  my  darling,  come  into  my  arms. 
Don't  you  move  or  I  may  give  you  what  you 
threatened  me  with." 
1^     Hilda  fully  remembered  now. 
■JL'The  doctor  sat  cowering  under  the  muzzle  of 
^■b  own  gun. 

Branton  had  gathered  his  darling  into  his  arms 
and  was  giving  her  sweet  kisses  when  he  heard  a 


100  DANGERS   OP  WORKING   GIRLS. 

footstep  and  was  in  the  act  of  turning  when  down 
upon  his  head  came  a  heavy  blow  which  felled 
him  to  the  ground. 

"Oh,  you  will  take  a  good  Chinaman  and  trow 
him  in  the  coal  holee;  that  what  he  didy  to  me.'' 

Hilda  stood  over  her  lover,  but  she  was  soon 
dragged  away. 

"Don't  hurt  him,"  commanded  the  master  of 
the  establishment,  "for  he  will  be  the  best  in  the 
world  for  me  to  torture  after  the  sale  to-night. 
Do  you  hear?  You  shall  see  what  it  seems  like  to 
stand  in  the  presence  of  a  lover  being  put  to 
death  with  the  most  frightful  tortures.  Now 
then,  come  with  me." 

Branton  was  placed  in  a  room,  where  he  was 
left  to  regain  his  consciousness,  which  was  not 
for  many  hours.  He  then  sat  up  rubbing  his  head 
and  wondering  what  had  hit  him  in  the  face. 


Haggerdy  did  not  mention  to  the  detective 
when  he  saw  him  that  day  when  our  hero  was 
passing  through  such  dreadful  things,  that  he 
had  seen  the  long-sought-for  man. 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  1Q± 

'^I  only  came  for  orders,"  he  said,  and  sat  quiet- 
ly down  and  waited. 

"I  cannot  imagine  where  that  fellow  Branton 
is,"  cried  Detective  O'Hara;  "he  must  have  fallen 
from  the  earth,  or  some  of  our  sleuths  would  have 
seen  him  before  this.'^ 

Haggerdy  had  nothing  to  say. 

"If  I  ever  clap  my  eyes  upon  him  again  he 
won't  get  off  so  easy.  Now  then,  for  the  love  of 
heaven,  tell  me,  have  you  found  out  where  that 
Indian  doctor  does  business  in  Pell  street?  Is  it 
No.  44,  or  what?" 

"Yep." 

"How  do  you  know?" 

"Saw  Mrs.  Dean  go  in  there." 

"Then  you  are  to  go  with  me  to-night.  How 
•are  we  going  to  enter?" 

"I  don't  know,  but  if  you  find  a  way  then  will 
I  follow." 

So  it  happened  that  the  two  men  went  together 
to  the  low^er  part  of  the  town  and  examined  care- 
fully the  holes  about  the  place. 

Suddenly  they  came  upon  the  coal  hole  in 
which  the  Chinaman  had  been  imprisoned  and 


J[g2  DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS. 

found  that  some  one  had  lately  made  his  way 
through  the  window  into  the  cellar.     This  was 
just  the  opportunity  for  just  such  men  as  the^^ 
,^  were. 

Into  the  dirty  place  they  made  their  way  until 
a  light  from  the  upper  story  guided  their  foot- 
steps in  the  right  direction. 

"I've  left  w^ord  with  the  chief,"  said  Kane  as 
they  proceeded  quietly  along,  "to  be  here  at  nine 
and  to  get  into  this  house  in  some  way.  I  think 
they  will  bring  help  enough  to  release  us  if  we  get 
into  trouble." 

Haggerdy  grunted,  because  he  did  not  believe 
but  what  they  could  take  care  of  themselves. 

"Now  then,  old  man,  you  stay  there  in  the  dark 
until  you  hear  me  whistle;  then  you  come  to  my 
assistance. '^ 

Haggerdy  stumbled  as  he  slouched  along,  and 
suddenly  he  came  up  against  a  wall. 
"      He  sat  down  upon  the  floor  and  was  startled 
by  finding  something  wriggling  under  Mm. 

"What  in  thunder  is  that?"  cried  he.  "What 
are  you,  man  or " 


DANGERS   OP   WORKING   GIRLS.  1Q3 

"Man,"  answered  a  sleepy  voice,  and  Izy  crawl- 
ed from  under  the  policeman. 

"What  was  you  doing  there?''  demanded  the 
officer. 

"Only  a-sleeping,  waiting  for  my  master  to  call 
me.'^ 

"And  who  is  your  master?" 

"Barney  Branton.  He  is  up  there  delivering 
his  sweetheart  from  the  hands  of  a  beast." 

"And  my  master  has  gone  to  help  him,"  replied 
Haggerdy. 

Then  the  two  were  silent  for  fear  they  would 
attract  the  numerous  people  they  heard  running 
around  overhead. 


Kane  O'Hara  made  his  way  softly  through  the 
house,  trying  every  door  he  came  to,  peering  here 
and  there  into  the  rooms,  until  he  came  at  last  to 
a  place  brightly  lighted,  and  he  saw  standing  in 
the  hall,  or  the  narrow  room,  which  it  might  be 
called,  Mrs.  Dean,  who  was  talking  to  the  doctor. 

"And  she  stabbed  your  hand,  the  »hrew?   Why 


164  DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIBLS. 

didn't  you  kill  them  both?  They  are  nat  fit  t® 
live.    Why  did  you  spare  them?" 

"She  was  too  valuable  to  do  such  a  thing,  and 
I  am  giving  him  a  run  for  his  money;  that  is,  I 
am  going  to  have  the  fellow  tortured  well." 

"And  the  girl?"  demanded  the  woman. 

"She  will  be  sold  at  my  convenience/'  was  the 
answer.  "Now  don't  you  interfere  with  her;  I 
claim  her  as  my  special  property." 

"Yes,  because  you  love  her,"  sneered  Karina. 
"You  know  you  do,  you  miserable  man." 

"You  lie  now,  Karina,  Don't  let's  quarrel,  for 
it  is  not  worth  while.  Come,  we  will  go  in  here 
and  sit  down." 

And  a^  quickly  as  he  spoke  they  turned  into  the 
room  and  came  face  to  fa^e  with  Kane  O'Hara. 


DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS.  165 


CHAPTER  XL 

'What  are  you  doing  here?"  demanded  the 
doctor,  looking  at  Kane  searchingly.  "So  you, 
too,  have  placed  yourself  in  my  hands  like  that 
fool  Branton?  Don't  you  think  that  fate  has 
been  kind  to  me,  my  Karina?" 

He  was  covering  the  detective  with  a  revolver. 

"Hands  up,"  cried  he.  And  up  went  Kane's 
hands. 

"Now  then,  look  steadily  at  that  image  beside 
you.    Do  you  know  what  that  is?" 

Kane  allowed  his  eyes  to  rest  upon  a  hideous 
face  near  him.  He  saw  that  it  was  some  kind  of 
mechanism,  but  what  he  knew  not. 

"Ah,  O'Hara,  you  can't  tell  just  what  it  is,  but 
go  closer  and  closer  and  yet  closer." 

The  doctor  was  pressing  the  man  with  t&e 
weapon,  and  Kane  walked  to  the  chair. 

"Now,  sit  in  it,"  ordered  the  doctor. 


r|0g  DANGERS   OF  WORKING   GIRLS. 

Kane  turned  around  to  meet  the  haughty  eyes 
of  Karina.  She  laughed  lightly  as  she  saw  him 
pleading  with  her  for  aid. 

"So  you  are  going  to  get  your  just  deserts,  are 
you?"  cried  she.  "Ah,  O'Hara,  it  is  not  the  angels 
who  always  gain  heaven  on  earth." 

"Sit  down,"  broke  in  the  doctor. 

Kane  felt  the  cold  muzzle  of  the  pistol. 

He  sat  down  softly,  and  the  moment  he  had 
reached  the  seat  he  felt  two  large  metal  arms 
closing  around  him. 

"How  does  it  feel  to  be  embraced  like  that? 
We  call  him  the  god  Josh,  and  he  will  see  that 
you  die  well.  Now  how  do  you  like  the  smell  of 
that?" 

Salsya  pressed  another  button,  and  out  over 
the  detective  floated  a  villainous  powder  that 
made  him  cough  and  spit  with  vigor. 

"Stop  that,  you  devil,"  cried  O'Hara.  "Don't 
you  know  better  than  to  choke  a  fellow  to  death?" 

"That's  what  I  intend  to  do.  You  are  never  to 
leave  those  arms  alive  nor  my  presence,  for  this 
night  this  place  will  be  closed  and  you,  with  Bar- 
ney Branton,  will  be  left  here  to  die." 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  IQJ 

"Barney  Branton?"  gasped  Kane. 

"Yes;  he,  too,  faced  the  lion  in  his  lair,  and, 
although  I  got  a  little  scratch  from  him,  it 
amounted  to  nothing,  and  now,  then,  here  is  for 
another  drink  of  powder." 

Again  and  again  the  button  was  pressed,  and 
then  the  doctor  lifted  the  curtain  and  looked  at 
his  victim.  O'Hara  was  not  breathing,  but  held 
his  nose  with  one  of  his  pinioned  hands. 

"Oh,  you'll  have  to  draw  your  breath  in  a  little 
while,"  said  the  doctor,  laughing.  "It  won't  take 
long  for  you  to  make  up  your  mind  that  to 
breathe  powder  is  better  than  not  to  breathe  at 
all." 

"Look  a-here,  Salsya,"  and  O'Hara  waved  his 
hand  to  beat  away  the  poisonous  drug;  "look 
here,  I'm  at  your  mercy  now,  but  if  you  think  that 
it  will  always  be  so  you  are  mistaken.  I  believe 
on  my  soul  that  I  shall  live  to  see  you  in  the  mur- 
derer's chair." 

The*Indian  threw  back  his-^head  and  shouted. 

"Fool,"  laughed  he,  "there  is  nothing  on  earth 
that  can  save  you.    You  are  as  much  at  my  mercy 


X(}S  DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS. 

now  as  Branton,  and  I  doubt  if  he  will  ever  re- 
gain his  senses  again. '^ 

"Nevertheless,"  replied  Kane,  "I  may  now  be 
I  breathing  your  terrible  stuff,  bwt  I  shall  have  the 
''  shackles  on  you  yet.  Phew,  turn  off  that  powder ; 
I  want  to  swear." 

A  ringing  laugh  came  from  Karina's  lips.  All 
this  was  delightful  to  her. 

"Do  you  remember,  Mr.  Detective,"  asked  she, 
"when  you  told  me  that  you  thought  I  was  sham- 
ming my  grief?    What  do  you  think  now?" 

"That  you  are  a  miserable  coward  and  woman 
destroyer." 

"Man,  too,"  taunted  the  woman.  "Here,  let  me 
give  him  a  little  blow,"  and  saying  this  she  press- 
ed the  button  and  the  detective  spit  loudly. 

"Just  bring  it  to  the  right,"  said  Salsya,  "and 
leave  him  to  slowly  die,  the  cur.  He  will  see  that 
it  is  a  case  of  the  survival  of  the  fittest." 

"And  you  are  the  fittest,  nit,"  shouted  the  de- 
tective.   Then  he  choked  dreadfully. 

"He's,  game,"  said  the  doctor.  "Come,  Karina, 
and  let  him  alone." 

Scarcely  had  they  left  the  room  before  CHara 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  IQ^ 

commenced   to  sneeze  and  utter  heartrending 
noises 

Then  out  of  a  hole  near  by,  coming  from  an- 
^  o^er  room,  crawled  the  figure  of  a  man. 
♦     *^HeIp,  help!"  cried  Kane. 

The  figure  crawled  slowly  up  to  the  chair,  and 
then  the  powder  was  shut  off  and  the  curtains 
drawn. 

Kane  O'Hara  was  looking  into  the  pain-laden 
eyes  of  the  prisoner  he  sought  so  diligently. 

"Let  me  loose,  old  man,"  cried  he.  "I  surely 
am  having  my  insides  pressed  out  and  this  pow- 
der will  sneeze  my  head  off." 

The  work  then  was  to  find  the  spring  that 
would  loosen  the  arms. 

"Take  my  gun  from  my  pocket,"  ordered  Kane, 
"and  if  any  one  comes  in  shoot,  and  shoot  to  kill." 

Branton  did  as  he  was  told,  and  he  labored 
with  the  figure  and  at  last  was  rewarded  with 
seeing  the  great  arms  separate  and  the  man  rise 
to  his  feet. 

"God  bless  you,  old  chap.  Now  thmy  we  will 
give  them  the  run  for  their  money  that  they  were 


I^Q  DANGERS   OP  WORKING  GIRLS. 

going  to  give  you.  Have  you  any  one  to  help 
you?" 

"Yes,"  replied  Branton  slowly,  trying  to  regain 
his  strength ;  "I  have  Isidore  Cohen." 

"And  I  have  Policeman  Haggerdy.  But  I  could 
not  have  called  him  because  that  cuss  pinioned 
my  arms  and  I  could  not  use  my  whistle.  I'd  like 
to  get  my  hands  on  him." 

The  young  man  then  rehearsed  to  the  detective 
what  had  happened  in  the  room  before  the  doctor 
gave  Hilda  that  terrible  stuff.  "Oh,  I,  too,  would 
like  to  get  my  hands  on  him.  I  wish  I'd  given 
him  a  blow  that  night  when  I  went  to  the  house 
of  the  Deans.  He  was  trying  to  steal  the  money 
I  was  after " 

"You?"  gasped  Kane. 

"Yes,  I,  O'Hara,"  cried  Barney.  "I  was  the 
king  of  the  cracksmen,  but  I  never  took  a  human 
life,  and  I  wanted  money  because  I  could  not  get 
honest  work;  but  for  murder,  I  never  did  it." 

"And  I  believe  you,"  assented  the  other;  "I 
shall  never  use  your  admission  against  you." 

The  two  looked  into  each  other's  face  for  a  mo- 
anent,  and  there  arose  between  them  an  affection 


DANGERS   OF  WORKING  GIRLS.  IJI 

which  lasted  all  of  their  lives,  and  for  the  first 
and  last  time  this  young  man  confessed  his  for- 
mer trade  and  then  it  sank  out  of  sight. 

"I  shall  never  steal  again,  O'Hara,"  promised 
Branton,  "not  if  I  save  my  dear  sweetheart." 

"Our  duty  will  now  be  to  liberate  all  the  girls 
there  are  in  here,"  decided  O'Hara. 

"Elsie  Dean  is  still  in  the  cell,"  said  Branton,. 
^'and  she  is  to  be  sold  to  some  Eastern  rich  man, 
and  Mrs.  Dean  is  going  to  claim  the  fprtune.  If 
she  becomes  unmanageable,  then  she  is  to  be 
killed.  Let's  go  to  the  front,  old  man,  and  save 
.  the  whole  bunch  with  the  help  of  heaven." 
««•»«■«*«« 

There  was  one  room  in  the  establishment  of  the 
Indian  that  was  the  terror  of  every  prisoner.  It 
f!  was  a  beautifully  hung  apartment  with  draperies 
of  velvet,  and  it  was  here  that  the  buyers  gath- 
ered to  purchase  any  girl  who  might  suit  their 
fancy. 

Hilda  was  sitting  there  with  her  hands  folded 
and  looking  extremely  pensive.  She  had  given 
all  hope  since  Barney  had  been  sent  away,  and 
.  fcihe  did  not  know  where  he  had  gone  to. 


1 


^>J2  DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GiRLS. 


Just  as  she  was  thinking  this  the  door  op^ed 
and  the  sailor  peeped  in.  He  saw  the  ocompant 
and  walked  in  slowly. 

"Miss,"  he  began,  "I  would  have  saved  you  if  I 
had  been  able.  I  begged  the  master  to  be  kind  to 
you,  but  I  cannot  remember  what  he  said.'' 

"Poor  fellow,"  said  Hilda  rising;  "he  has  you 
as  much  of  a  slave  as  the  rest  of  us.  I  feel  for  you 
so  deeply." 

"I  am  here  forever,"  admitted  the  sailor,  "and 
no  one  can  help  me.  I  had  a  sister  once,  but  I 
don't  remember  her  name." 

"And  I,"  b^an  Hilda,  looking  keenly  at  him, 
"had  a  brother,  but  he  died  in  the  war.  My  poor 
father  is  dead,  too.  Oh,  I  beg  of  you  to  help  me. 
Can't  you  bring  to  your  mind  the  face  of  your 
own  sister,  and  let  that  help  you  to  aid  me?  Oh, 
please  do  not  let  him  harm  me." 

Her  face  was  now  covered  with  tears.  The 
sailor  worked  painfully,  for  memory  was  strug- 
gling with  itself. 

j     "Oh,  girl,  if  I  could  but  remember,  but  this 
bone  in  my  head  hurts  so  it  makes  me  crazy." 


DANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS.  I73 

Hilda  walked  up  to  him  with  her  hands  ex- 
tended. 

"Man/'  began  she,  sobbing,  "look  here;  once 
w^hen  I  was  a  little  girl,  my  dear  brother  put  this 
anchor  upon  my  arm.  And  upon  his  breast  he 
placed  a  ship.  And  then  he  said  to  me,  ^Hilda, 
that  will  keep  you  from  danger.' '' 

The  sailor's  face  brightened  and  his  eyes 
sparkled  for  a  moment.  Then  they  again  lost 
their  lustre  and  he  went  back  into  the  old  state  of 
weeping. 

"A  ship,  an  anchor,"  said  he,  muttering  to  him- 
self, "and  Hilda,  Hilda,  Hilda." 

This  name  rolled  from  under  his  tongue  lov- 
ingly until  he  gathered  from  the  dimmed  recesses 
of  his  brain  something  out  of  the  past.  Hilda 
saw  it  coming. 

"I  have  the  ship,"  said  he,  not  daring  to  look 
up,  for  fear  of  some  revolution  it  would  make  in 
his  life,  but  the  girl  was  not  slow  to  act. 

"Then  you  are  my  brother  Charlie,  and  I  am 
your  sister.  Did  not  your  mother  tell  you  to  take 
care  of  Hilda  before  you  left  home?" 

"Take  care  of  Hilda,  take  care  of  Hilda,"  mut- 


174  DANGERS   OP  WORKING   GIRLS. 

tered  the  other.  "Oh  yes,  to  take  care  of  my  little 
baby  sister  Hilda.  Oh  yes,  yes,  child,  I  have  found 
you.  The  mother  on  her  deathbed  and  little 
curly-headed  Hilda  weeping  at  her  side,  and  my 
father " 

"Stood  with  his  arm  about  you,"  cried  Hilda; 
"yes,  yes,  you  are  my  dear  brother  Charlie.  Oh, 
take  me  with  you  wherever  you  are  going,  and  I 
will  never  leave  you." 

She  was  close  to  him  now,  peering  pleadingly 
into  his  face,  and  still  the  poor  brain  was  strug- 
gling  with  its  burden  of  forgetfulness. 

Suddenly  there  leaped  into  the  dull  eyes  the 
full  light  of  reason. 

"I  remember  it  all,"  shouted  he,  "and  just  how 
you  looked  and  what  mother  said  to  me,  ^Take 
care  of  my  little  baby  Hilda.'  And,  please  God,  I 
shall  care  for  you,  my  darling." 

They  were  in  each  other's  arms  when  the  door 
softly  opened,  but  neither  heard  it.  They  were 
absorbed  in  the  love  which  had  been  given  them 
at  birth.  Each  one  remembered  the  tender 
mother,  the  dignified  father,  and  Hilda  felt  now 


DANGERS   OP  WORKING   GIRLS.  ±J§ 

that  she  would  willingly  die  if  her  brother  could 
retain  his  memory. 

Suddenly  a  voice  broke  upon  their  ears. 

"This  is  a  nice  scene/'  said  Dr.  Salsya  as  he 
walked  into  the  room. 

"What  does  it  mean?"  asked  he  in  an  intense 
tone.  "How  dare  you  put  your  hand  upon  that 
woman?" 

"I  am  his  own  sister,"  said  Hilda,  keeping  her 
hands  upon  the  shrinking  boy.  "Don't  you  dare 
to  touch  him,  sir;  you  will  destroy  all  hope  for 
me,  for  I  swear  if  you  do  anything  to  again  take 
away  his  memory  of  our  dear  mother  upon  her 
deathbed,  then  will  I  kill  myself  and  you  can't 
help  it.    Do  you  understand?" 

Hilda's  tone  was  so  sharp  that  the  doctor  stood 
where  he  first  halted. 

"I  hear,"  said  he  slowly,  "but  that  does  not  say 
that  I  heed.  Now,  listen,  you  youngsters,  for  T 
will  not  be  balked  in  my  plan.  You,  Charlie,  go 
from  the  room  only  for  a  moment,  as  I  want  to 
talk  with  your  sister,  which  I  really  believe  she 
is,  for  there  is  a  strong  family  resemblance." 


3.76  DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS. 

Hilda  still  held  to  her  brother's  hand,  but  a 
look  from  the  doctor  made  her  drop  it. 

"Gk),  Charlie,  dear,  and  if  I  want  you  come  at 
nay  call." 

The  lad  went  from  the  room,  his  eyes  feasting 
upon  the  dear  face. 

Dr.  Salsya  ran  to  the  girl  as  he  went  out. 

"Hilda,"  he  said  rapidly,  "if  you  will  accede  to 
my  wishes  I  will  promise  you  to  always  be  good 
to  him  and  never  to  make  him  my  t5ol  again  and 
to  treat  you  like  a  queen,  and  you  shall  be  my 
wife,  my  honored  wife." 

"And  what  of  the  woman  you  took  from  her 
husband,  and  made  a  criminal?   What  of  her?" 

The  doctor  shook  his  head  impatiently. 

"She  can  go  to  the  dickens  as  far  as  I  am  con- 
cerned. I  do  not  love  her  anyway.  I  would 
rather  have  her  out  of  the  way." 

"Maybe  she  will  not  take  to  it  so  peaceably  as 
you  think,"  argued  Hilda  to  save  time,  and  for 
what?  Maybe  it  was  the  two  stanch  young  fel- 
lows who  at  ttiat  moment  were  looking  into  each 
other's  eyes  and  vowing  to  help  her,  that  made 
her  so  confident.    They  were  giving  her  some  of 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  177 

%eir  strength  through  the  mind,  which  is  possi- 
ble, and  kept  Hilda  parrying  with  the  doctor. 

*^I  don't  care  what  she  does,"  cried  he  again ;  "I 
only  want  you,  child,  only  you." 

*^You  cannot  have  me." 

"Then  I  will,"  shouted  he,  "and  you  do  not 
leave  this  room  until  you  are  mine  body  and  soul, 
for  I  love  you,  Hilda  Murivale." 

Hilda  pushed  his  hand  from  her  arm.  She 
lifted  hers  impatiently  and  brought  it  down  with 
full  strength  upon  his  face. 

Mrs.  Dean  entered  the  room  at  that  moment, 
but  not  in  time  to  see  the  whole  thing. 

"What  is  the  meaning  of  this?"  cried  she,  look- 
ing from  one  to  the  other. 

"It  means  that  I  am  going  to  tame  this  girl," 
cried  the  doctor,  whose  face  was  livid. 

"And  I  say  that  he  is  trying  to  make  me  love 
him." 

Mrs.  Dean  turned  her  face  toward  the  doctor 
with  a  deadening  look. 

"She  lies,  Karina,"  said  the  man ;  "I  was  only 
trying  to  make  her  obey  me,  and  I  will  not  have  a 
iwoman  about  who  will  not  obey  me." 


J^78  DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS. 

He  walked  threateniDgly  up  to  Hilda  and  gave 
her  an  expression  of  curiosity,  because  here  was  a 
woman  who  dared  anything  for  her  honor's  sake, 
and  he  loved  her  all  the  better. 

"You  know  you  are  lying,  girl,"  said  he,  raising 
his  voice,  so  that  Karina  could  hear. 

"I, was  not  lying,  and  you  are  a  wicked  man. 
You  did  say  that  you  loved  me,  and  I  will  not  let 
you  put  your  hands  upon  me.'' 

Then  she  turned  and  fled  to  Karina,  thinking 
that  as  a  w^oman  she  could  make  her  do  as  her 
heart  would  dictate. 

"Karina,"  she  said,  ""if  you  want  to  keep  that 
man  to  yourself,  help  me  to  escape.  I  want  to  go 
from  here,  for  I  do  not  care  for  your  lover." 


DANGERS   OF   WORKING  GIRLS.  ^Jf) 


CHAPTER  XII. 

"Oh,  you  do  not  care  for  my  lover,"  sneered 
Karina;  "well,  my  lover  does  not  care  for  yqu. 
Now  then,  you  get  out  of  here  and  let  me  talk  to 
this  man." 

"J  have  not  finished  my  talk  with  Hilda  yet, 
Karin^,"  cried  the  doctor ;  "you  step  outside  only 
a  moment,  and  I  will  tame  her." 

Karina,  with  a  look  of  hate,  left  the  room  and 
the  doctor  drew  tightly  the  velvet  curtains  to- 
gether, so  that  no  one  could  hear.  But  he  had 
reckoned  without  his  host. 

A  slight  quiver  of  the  curtains  and  Hilda  and 
the  doctor  were  not  alone. 

"Hilda,  I  love  you,"  cried  Salsya;  "why  do  you 
make  me  suffer  so?  I  have  no  one  in  the  world 
but  you,  and  it  does  seem  as  if  my  heart  would 
break.  Hear  me,  little  girl,  I  am  going  to  dispose 
of  all  tliose  women  in  there  to-night,  and  Mrs. 


tJ^gO  DANGERS   OP  WORKING  GIHLS. 

Dean  can  go  anywh^e  she  wisihes,  but  you  ai^e  to 
go  with  me." 

"I  will  not,"  said  Hilda;  ^^ou  belong  to  her, 
and  I  do  not  want  you." 

"Don't  trifle  with  me,  child,"  gasped  the  doc-  "^ 
tor.  "To-night  you  will  have  to  make  your  choice. 
Now,  then,  for  getting  together  all  and  finishing 
up  with  New  York,  and  when  you  leave  this  town 
this  night  you  will  go  as  my  wife,  mine  body  and 
soul." 


Branton  and  O'Hara  were  in  a  little  room 
where  they  had  quietly  hidden.  Branton  knew 
all  the  plans  of  the  doctor,  and  then  had  arranged 
themselves  accordingly. 

The  room  of  mystery  was  all  lighted  up  for  the 
evening,  and  the  poor  victims  were  dressed  for 
the  sale  after  a  dose  of  the  powder,  which  was 
well  sprinkled  over  them.  Each  girl  laughed  in 
her  hideous  glee  and  thought  that  Dr.  Salsya  was 
her  dearest  friend. 

Branton  gnashed  his  teeth  amgrily,  and  O'Hara 
nudged  him  in  the  ribs. 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  IgJ 

''Keep  puffing  at  your  pipe,"  whispo^ed  he,  "for 
that  will  make  the  old  man  think  that  you  are 
one  of  them.  Look  at  the  Dean  woman ;  she  looks 
twenty  years  older  than  ever  before." 


When  Mrs.  Dean  heard  the  words  from  Dr. 
Salsya's  lips  she  nearly  lost  her  reason,  and  she 
knew  now  that  Hilda  had  told  the  truth.  She, 
too,  crept  into  the  mystery  room,  with  her  spirit 
crushed  and  broken,  but  she  had  made  up  her 
mind  to  get  even  with  the  doctor  and  see  that  he 
was  not  happy  with  the  woman  whom  she  hated. 

She  seated  herself  not  far  from  Branton  and 
Kane.  They  were  both  holding  their  heads  down, 
so  that  their  faces  could  not  be  seen. 

Dr.  Salsya  came  in  leading  Hilda. 

Branton  had  seen  Izy  before,  telling  him  to  be 
ready,  as  while  they  might  not  need  their  help  yet 
that  it  was  better  to  be  on  the  safe  side. 

Then  the  great  climax  in  all  their  lives  came. 

Dr.  Salsya  commenced  his  talk,  and  said  that 
it  pleased  him  to  be  able  to  give  to  every  man  the 


132  DANGfERS   OP  WORKING  GIRLS. 

woman  he  wanted.  There  was  no  chance  for  a 
disagreeable,  for  they  should  take  their  choice. 

The  poor  doped  fools  laughed  and  giggled,  only 
Hilda  being  in  her  right  mind.  The  moment  she 
entered  the  room  she  held  out  her  hands  to  her 
brother,  and  Salsya,  not  wanting  to  make  her 
obstinate,  allowed  him  to  stand  close  to  her. 

Just  as  the  sale  commenced  a  voice  came  out  of 
the  corner :  "I  demand  that  this  woman  be  sold 
first!" 

It  was  Mrs.  Dean,  with  her  finger  pointing 
straight  at  Hilda. 

"I  swear  that  she  shall  not  be  sold,  woman,'^ 
cried  the  doctor.  "I  have  done  with  you.  Do  not 
try  to  interfere  with  my  business,  and  please  do 
not  bore  me  any  more.'' 

With  this  flung  in  her  face,  the  woman  sank 
upon  a  divan. 

"Are  you  not  ashamed,  man?"  cried  Hilda. 

Karina  jumped  up. 

"I  don't  want  your  sympathy.  Miss.  You  will 
die  now.    I  will  deal  with  this  man." 

Then  going  up  to  the  doctor,  she  said : 

^^And  this  is  the  man  I  have  sinned  for,  the  man 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  1g^ 

1  allowed  to  kill  my  husband,  who  was  so  kind  to 
me  always?'' 

"Woman,"  shouted  Salsya,  "do  you  know  what 
you  are  saying?  Dare  utter  another  word  like 
that  and  I'll  settle  you.  I'm  going  to  marry  this 
girl !    Do  you  understand?" 

"And  I  say  you  shall  not,"  and  Karina  started 
for  Hilda  with  her  fingers  in  the  air. 

A  shot  rang  out  through  the  room  aiid  Karina 
staggered  and  fell,  with  a  bullet  in  her  heart  from 
the  smoking  weapon  held  in  the  hand  of  Salsya. 

"She  nor  no  one  else  shall  balk  my  plans  now,*' 
growled  the  doctor.  "Now,  gentlemen,  we  will 
proceed  with  the  sale." 

A  door  was  opened  and  another  lot  of  girls 
came  giggling  in  and  their  condition  made  Bran- 
ton  grind  his  teeth. 

"I'll  make  him  suffer  for  what  he  has  done,** 
said  he  under  his  breath  to  Kane. 

Hilda  was  still  with  her  brother,  in  whose  eyes 
a  dangerous  light  was  shining. 

"No  one  need  look  at  this  young  lady,"  cau- 
tioned Salsj^'a  as  he  saw  the  buyers  going  among 
the  girls  with  greedy  eyes ;  "she  belongs  to  ma" 


184  DANGERS   OP  WORKING  GIRLS. 

The  sailor  lifted  up  his  hand :  "I  say  she  be- 
longs to  me,"  said  he. 

"Don't  be  a  fool,  Charlie,"  laughed  the  doctor]; 
"you  are  both  in  my  power." 

"And  you  are  in  mine/'  shouted  Branton, 
jumping  for  the  doctor.  "Now  take  your  hands 
from  that  girl.    Take  them  off,  I  say !" 

"Not  so  fast,  Mr.  Branton.  So  you  have  come 
to  life  again.  Just  you  take  this !"  and  he  leveled 
his  gun  at  the  young  man's  face  and  fired. 

But  Hilda  had  knocked  it  from  his  fingers  sud- 
denly, and  the  bullet  went  into  the  air. 

A  Chinaman  came  in  answer  to  the  ringing  of 
the  bell  in  the  hands  of  the  doctor. 

"Lee,"  shouted  Salsya,  "do  your  duty." 

The  strangers  were  looking  on  curiously,  not 
caring  to  take  a  hand  in  the  fray* 

Lee  made  a  bolt  for  Branton,  but  was  stopped 
by  a  bullet  from  the  gun  held  by  Kane.  Then 
came  a  deadly  onslaught.  The  servants  poured 
in  and  helped  Dr.  Salsya  to  again  gain  possession 
^  of  Hilda. 

He  placed  his  arm  about  Hilda  and  commenced 
to  draw  her  toward  the  door.    In  his  hand  was 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  Igg 

a  loaded  revolver.  A  lot  of  frightened  girls,  }»st 
getting  back  their  senses,  crowded  about  Braa- 
ton,  begging  to  be  taken  to  their  homes  and  push- 
ing off  any  detaining  hand  which  might  be  placed 
upon  them. 

The  doctor  had  only  gotten  as  far  as  the  door, 
when  he  felt  a  touch  upon  his  arm. 

Turning  he  met  a  fearful  blow  from  the  fist  of 
Charlie,  now  iniull  possession  of  his  senses. 

"Fly,  Hilda,"  cried  Charlie,  and,  woman-like, 
she  fled  to  Branton. 

The  servants  were  cowed  by  the  death  of 
their  master,  and  suddenly  as  they  were  looking 
upon  the  scene  they  heard  a  great  din  outside, 
and  the  whole  front  of  the  house  literally  fell  out 
with  the  pounding  of  the  police. 

There  was  then  no  more  trouble.  Branton  took 
his  lady  love  away,  and  they  were  quietly  mar- 
ried. Kane  O'Hara  and  Izy,  with  Policeman 
Haggerdy,  were  witnesses  for  Barney  as  far  as 
the  murder  of  Dean  was  concerned. 

Elsie  insisted  upon  dividing  her  fortune  with 
Hilda.    Branton  at  first  refused  it,  but  the  lame 


Igg  DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS. 

child  felt  so  badly  that  nothing  could  be  done  but 
to  accept. 

Hilda  was  happy  in  being  restored  to  her 
brother,  and  he  and  Branton  went  into  business 
together. 

Kane  was  one  of  their  most  frequent  visitors. 


Only  three  other  characters  are  to  be  disposed 
of.  Ann,  "the  mighty,"  was  tired  of  waiting  for 
Tzy,  and  when  Haggerdy  proposed  to  her  she  ac- 
cepted him,  and  when  Izy  heard  that  she  was  mar- 
ried he  went  off  on  a  three  days'  drunk  and  was 
happy  once  more. 

One  morning  when  Hilda  and  Elsie  were  alone 
in  Hilda's  home  they  were  talking  over  the  past. 
Branton  stole  in  upon  them  and  took  his  wife's 
face  in  his  hands  and  kissed  her. 

'We  were  just  saying,  dear,"  said  Hilda,  "that 
this  time  last  year  we  were  all  so  unhappy." 

"Yes,"  replied  Elsie,  "what  a  year  can  bring 
forth !" 

Branton  stood    thinking  for  a  few   moments 


DANGERS  OP  WORKING  GIRLS.  137 

when  another  step  announced  the  coming  of  some 
one  else. 

"It's  Charlie,"  said  Hilda. 

"Yes,  it  is  I,  dear  little  sister,"  whispered  the 
brother  in  her  ear,  "and  only  to-day  I  was  thank- 
ing my  Heavenly  Father  for  giving  me  back  my 
mind  so  that  I  might  help  do  away  with  one  of  the 
terrible  Dangers  of  Working  Gibls/' 


fTHE  ENDo 


THE  CONFESSIONS 
OF   A    BELL    BOY 


* 


By  JOHN  F.  KELLY 

Author  of 
"DRUMMERS'  SAMPLES'* 


Copyright  mo  by  Jofaa  F.  Kdlr 


NEW   YORK 

J.   S.   OGILVIE   PUBLISHING   CO- 

57  ROSE  STREET 


THE  REASON 

THERE'S  A  REASON,  and  this  is  it :  I  have 
been  a  traveling  man  for  twenty-five  yearn. 
My  line,  daily,  weekly  and  monthly  publi- 
cations. Territory  covered,  the  United  States, 
Canada  and  Mexico.  In  twenty-five  years'  traveling, 
homing  up  at  good,  bad  and  different  hotels,  one 
meets  many  kinds  of  people  and  comes  in  contact 
with  the  ever-ready,  irrepressible,  indispensable,  tip- 
expecting,  hustling  and  intelligent  bell-boy. 
♦  On  a  special  Summer  Resort  trip  for  the  New 
York  Herald,  I  met  the  bell-boy  who  made  the  con- 
fession. He  was  one  of  the  live  "hoppers"  at  the 
Montenesca  on  Mount  Pocono,  Pa. 

THE  AUTHOR. 


ich  is  tbe  beat  Hotel?   IVhy  they  axe  all  best    Tbew  it  is  <nrer  tberew 


1 


The  Confessions  of  a 
Bell  Boy 


CHAPTER  I. 


The  Hopper  Tells  of  His  Early  Days  and  His 
Break  Into  the  Game — How  He  Worked  the 
Sympathy  Gag  on   the  Kind-Hearted   Guest, 


*' Let's  see.  I  have  been  in  this  game,  bell- 
hopping,  about  nine  years  now.  Started  in  at  it 
in  a  little  Raines  law  joiat  up  in  York  State. 
Every  time  I  think  of  that  eatery  and  drinkery, 
mostly  drinkery,  with  the  necessary  number  of 
rooms  to  meet  the  law's  requirements,  I  think  that 
the  law  is  a  funny  game,  though  few  lawyers  are 
humorists." 

I  did  not  stay  at  my  first  job  long,  because,  as 
a  rule,  bottled  beer  joints  are  long  on  noise  and 
short  on  tips.  Beating  it  away  from  this  trolley 
town  where  I  first  ice-watered  an  overnight  thirst 
I  managed  to  connect  for  a  hoppiQg  job  in  Syra- 
cuse. Gee,  you  ought  to  have  seen  me  in  my  first 
suit  of  blue  with  the  marble-shaped  buttons  and 


1 


THE    CONFESSIONS    OF   A   BELL   BOY      5 

the  Tommy  Atkins  hat.  Honest,  I  felt  as  if  I  was 
in  a  masquerade  suit  all  the  time,  but  as  the 
strangeness  of  the  ^^ad^'  suit  wore  off,  the  clothes 
wore  on,  and  I  was  happy. 

I  stayed  long  enough  in  Syracuse  to  get  on  to 
a  few  wrinkles  I  did  not  know  in  Waterville,  and 
then  on  to  the  big  screech,  as  I  always  longed,  as 
every  country  boy  does,  to  see  New  York. 

My  time  spent  in  the  Waldorf  was  the  best  ex- 
perience I  had  before  or  since.  It  stood  me  well 
in  the  Auditorium  in  Chi.,  Willard^s  in  Washing- 
ton, Green's  in  Pasadena,  the  St.  Francis  in  'Fris- 
co, the  Angelus  in  Los  Angeles  and  the  other  top- 
notchers  from  one  end  of  the  country  to  the  other. 
I  was  never  particular  as  to  hopping.  Any  posi- 
tion from  check  room  to  porter  or  assistant  porter, 
just  so  I  got  what  the  chambermaids  in  the  Ryan 
in  St.  Paul  calls  a '^yob." 

When  I  look  back  at  what  I  have  seen  in  my 
^ve  years  of  hotel  life  I  think  that  there  is  a  lot 
of  bunk  in  the  world ;  that  ajl  is  not  gold  that  glit- 
ters :  that  things  are  not  wjiat  they  seem  and  that 
married  couples  on  the  register  are  not  married 
on  the  level. 

I've  seen  old  gents  with  school-girl  brides  and 
antique  dames  with  student  husbands.  I've  seen 
near-guests  of  hotels  write  more  letters  in  one  day 
on  the  house  stationery  than  the  real  guests  would 
in  a  week.  I've  mailed  correspondence  in  hotels 
that  nailed  co-respondents  later  on. 


THE    CONFESSIONS    OP    A    BELL    BOY      7 

Beii-hopping  in  the  Waldorf  ^s,  Plaza  *s  and  St. 
-Aegis's  leads  one  to  believe  that  men  are  not  the 
mly  mortals  that  travel  on  their  shapes. 

To  some  men  and  women,  too,  the  jingle  of  the 
ce  in  the  pitcher  sounds  better  in  the  morning 
;han  the  jingle  of  gold. 

Oh,  yes,  bell-hopping  pays.  But  money  does 
lot  drop  from  trees  and  is  seldom  given  unless 
tor  service,  and  good  service  at  that.  True,  there 
are  ways  of  getting  tips,  that  is,  good  tips,  and  by 
good  tips  I  mean  from  one  to  ten  dollars.  One 
of  the  best  wrinkles  for  getting  the  green  is  the 
working-through-college  gag  that  was  invented, 
or  rather  first  used,  by  a  captain  of  hops  now  at 
the  Willard  when  he  was  at  the  Waldorf.  ' 

You  know  there  are  a  lot  of  people  who  want 
to  hold  a  bell-boy  in  conversation  and  get  the  story 
of  his  life,  and,  if  the  story  listens  well,  tips  the 
boy  to  a  greenback. 

I  remember  during  my  time  at  the  Annex  in 
Chicago  I  hoppied  to  the  suite  of  a  guest  who  ap- 
peared to  me,  and  afterward  proved  as  such,  to 
be  one  of  those  good-natured,  fatherly  old  gen- 
+  '^  '^len,  who,  when  I  had  taken  his  letters  to  mail, 
3d  me  for  the  life-story  stuff.  I  had  just  heard 
of  that  working-through-college  stunt  as  an  end  to 
^^  •  t  poor-but-honest-parent  tale,  and  as  the  guest 
aght  on  the  trouble  himself,  I  concluded  to 

nd  it  to  him. 

I  was  a  little  nervous  at  first,  as  I  had  not  se- 


h 


8      THE    CONFESSIONS    OF   A   BELL   BOY 

lected  my  college  or  the  course  I  was  to  take  up 
but  I  thought  of  my  Waldorf  experiences  and  de- 
termined to  get  through  with  the  josh  or  couni 
my  maiden  effort  a  failure.  As  was  to  be  expect- 
ed, the  old  gentleman  asked  me  the  college  and 
the  courses  I  was  to  pursue.  Without  batting  an 
eyelash  I  come  back  .with  that  Skeeter  State 
schoolery,  Eutgers  College  in  Jersey,  and  the 
courses  civil  engineering  and  mechanics.  Fine] 
Worked  like  a  charm  and  seemed  to  revive  old 
memories  in  the  old  gentleman.  He  shot  a  lot  of 
talk  at  me  about  'draughting,  shades  and  shadows, 
linear  perspective  and  junk  like  that,  and  wound 
up  with  a  story  of  his  junior  year  at  college,  when 
he  was  tied  up  to  them  differential  calculus  things 
and  a  lot  more  of  that  rah-rah  stuff  that  those  soft- 
hat  kids  use. 

Now  don't  get  impatient.  I  got  a  good  tip  all 
right,  but  I  have  been  wondering  from  that  day 
to  this  how  I  got  away  with  the  spiel,  especially 
when  I  think  that  the  old  gentleman  who  gave  me 
the  ten-spot  was  a  short-pipe  and  soft-hat  boy  him- 
self in  his  young  days. 

Sister  at  boarding  school  was  Mike  Joyce  ^s  tip- 
getter  from  old  ladies  who  longed  for  the  life 
story  tale  from  Mike.  I  tried  it  once,  but  made  a;o 
awful  mess  of  it.    It  is  a  simple  story,  easily  told: 

In  my  own  case  it  was  easy  to  dig  up  a  colle:i:e 
and  the  penalties,  that  is,  the  studies,  but  in  tk 
case  of  a  sister,  the  shuffle  spoiled  the  deal,  and  J 


THE    CONFESSIONS    OF   A  BELL   BOY     9 

ke  a  chump,  picked  out  Vassar  College,  tlie  only 
,<ie  I  could  think  of  at  the  moment,  as  a  boarding 
'«hool  for  sister,  and  would  you  believe  it,  the 
idy  to  whom  I  was  telling  the  tale  was  one  of  the 
Tofessors  at  the  college.  Sister  at  boarding 
ehool  is  Mike  Joyce  ^s  stuff  from  that  day  to  this. 

Well,  I  should  say  it  is.  Interesting?  Why, 
J  bell-boy  gets  more  insight  into  human  nature 
dan  does  any  mortal  living.    We  meet  with  all 

asses,  from  the  liberal  tipper  to  the  man  who 
ashes  his  light  linen  in  his  room. 

We  think  more  of  a  dime  from  a  tightwad  than 
e  do  of  a  dollar  from  a  sport. 

We  get  a  lot  of  fun  from  paging  those  near- 
uests  who  leave  their  9  x  11  rooms  to  mingle  with^ 
le  money  guys  in  the  corridors,  grills  and  cafes. 

^* Married,  but  not  to  each  other,"  is  not  new, 
ut  we  know  what  it  means. 

That  cooing-couple  thing  is  a  scream  for  tlie 
rst  few  days. 

We  can  always  tell  a  kike  drummer;  he  wants 
v^erybody  to  know  he's  from  New  York. 

We  find  that  the  man  with  the  Broadway  front 
oes  not  always  have  the  Wall  Street  backing. 

I've  seen  blonde  ladies  enter  hotels  that  did  not 
)ok  that  way  when  I  brought  up  the  ice  water. 

The  average  dining-room  girl  in  the  *Hwo-ups" 
as  got  so  lately  that  she  can  laugh  at  the  small 
own  comedy  stuff  the  one-trunk  drummers  hand 
ut. 


le    THE    CONFESSIONS   OF   A  BELL  BOY 

m.  ^.=  U  Tiavs  to  be  pleasant  and  agreeable. 
Jtr^gues'tf  Lpeet  a'dollar's  Wh  of  opti 

"Tl'wis'e  grridicnles  a  tigMwad  in  a  bote^ 
buftbeligbtwld  bas  tbe  long  greens  wben  the 

"^^EX-^^:?epottotbeboteltosa 
f areSlome  men's  means  of  econommng  m  ord^ 
that  they  can  afford  a  doUar'g  worth  of  talk  witi 
a  manicurist. 


CHAPTEE  n. 


The  Hopper  and  His  Views  on  Hwm€kn  Nature; 
How  He  Made  a  Tightwad  Loosen  Up  on  His 
Rubber-Band  Bankroll, 


If  there  is  anything  one  hopper  loves  to  do  to 
another,  in  a  spirit  of  good  nature  and  fellowship, 
it  is  to  prove  that  a  tip  can  be  had  from  a  tight- 
wad with  the  thank-you  habit,  when  the  other  hop- 
pers failed  to  connect. 

Between  seasons,  that  is,  just  as  the  summer 
houses  had  closed  and  the  winter  ones  had  not 
opened,  I  beat  it  back  to  the  Denman  Thompson, 
but,  having  acquired  the  roving  habit,  the  old 
homestead  stunt  did  not  appeal  to  me,  and  once 
more  it  was  the  rails  between  me  and  the  rooster's 
Growings. 

On  the  way  from  Waterville  to  New  York  I  met 
an  old  pal  of  mine  from  Los  Angeles  on  the  train. 
He  had  hit  it  good  out  in  God's  country,  and  as 
he  was  a  thoroughbred  New  Yorker,  he  came  back 
East  and  was  running  a  *Hwo-up"  in  Troy. 

You  Imow  the  bell  hops  in  those  $2.00-a-day 
houses  will  never  get  rich  on  tips,  but  they  are 
working  and  getting  experiences,  and  that  is  some- 

u 


12    THE    CONFESSIONS    OF   A   BELL   BOY 

thing.  My  friend  proposed  that  I  get  off  at  Troy; 
and  spend  a  few  days  at  his  house  as  his  guest. 
Troy  for  mine  on  that  gnest  thing,  and  my  stay 
there  w^-s  in  the  nature  of  a  vacation. 

They  had  an  occasional  guest  at  the  Eiveredge, 
my  friend's  house,  that  used  to  come  in  from  out 
Eensselaer  way.  This  tightwad  was  a  retired 
farmer  who  was  never  known  to  tip  a  bell-boy, 
dining-room  girl  or  barber,  and  the  help  used  to 
hate  to  see  him  come  into  the  house.  My  friend, 
the  proprietor,  and  I  were  talking  about  this  old 
mortgage  chaser  and  we  finally  made  a  bet  of  ten 
dollars  that  if  I  were  to  hop  in  the  house  for  the 
length  of  the  Eube's  stay  there  that  I  could  not 
work  him  for  a  tip. 

Once  again  a  bell-hopper.  The  day  the  Eube 
registered  I  became  subject  to  * 'front,  ice  water 
in  thirty-two,  call  twenty-six  and  bring  down  the 
baggage  from  eighteen."  The  other  bell-bof^s,  a 
day  and  a  night,  were  in  on  the  scheme  and  every 
time  Mr.  Eube 's  bell  rang  it  was  me  for  the  three 
flights  up  to  thirty-seven  back. 

The  old  fellow  was  on  a  flash  drunk,  that  is, 
sticking  to  his  room  after  one  trip  out  for  his  bot- 
tled booze.  Never  the  bar  for  him,  and  as  ice 
water  was  free  to  guests,  it  was  a  continual  run 
upstairs  with  it,  and,  nary  a  tip. 

After  three  days  it  began  to  look  as  if  I  would 
lose  my  bet,  but  I  didn't.  The  old  fellow  and  I 
became  chummy.     I  told  him  some  stories  anci^. 


THE    CONFESSIONS   OP   A  BELL   BOY    15 

^iescribed  some  of  the  places  in  Troy  where  he 
had  never  been.  He  took  quite  a  fancy  to  me  and 
made  me  his  confidant.  He  said  he  had  always 
wanted  to  see  city  life,  as  he  had  read  of  it,  and 
that  if  I  wonld  be  his  gnide  he  wonld  make  me  a 
j^i-esent  of  fifty  cents,  and  as  an  evidence  of  good 
faith  would  pay  me,  then  and  there,  instantaneous 
and  on  the  moment,  by  an  order  on  the  clerk,  one 
whole  twenty-five-cent  piece  on  account.  My  bet 
was  won.  The  proprietor,  who  was  the  clerk,  ac- 
cepts his  order  and  considered  the  twenty-five 
cents  as  a  tip.  I  kept  my  part  of  the  agreement 
with  the  old  fellow  and  spent  an  evening  with  him 
seeing  the  sights.  Before  the  old  fellow  left  town 
he  went  the  limit,  cut  out  the  flash  act  and  made 
friends  with  the  bartender,  acquired  a  taste  for 
|a  good  time  in  Troy,  and  hiked  to  New  York  for 
la  better  one.  Nothing  could  come  too  swift  for 
the  ** retired  farmer''  when  he  put  up  at  the  Cen- 
1  in  New  York. 


k 


CHAPTER  III. 


Wherein  the  Bell-Hop  Tells  That  It  Pays  to  Be 
Civil  and  Obliging  to  Ancient  Maidens  With 
New  Money, 


Get  me  on  tliis  and  get  me  right.  Some  of  the 
hoppers  that  I  have  hopped  with  in  the  swells  and 
the  two-ups  make  it  a  practice  to  avoid,  if  possi-^ 
ble,  rings  from  the  rooms  of  the  females  who  al- 
ways look  under  the  bed  for  men  before  retiring* 
This  class  of  female,  as  you  know,  are  old  maids 
who,  for  some  reason  or  other,  have  been  passed 
up  in  the  marriage  lottery  thing,  and  who  with 
their  share  of  the  estate,  take  to  traveling  to  kill 
time  and  to  forget  that  there  ever  was  such  a 
human  as  man. 

I  remember  one  case  in  particular  where  a  kind- 
hearted  lady  came  across  with  the  ready  to  such 
an  extent  that  I  was  the  glad-rag  kid  and  wore  a 
glistener  out  of  a  century  note  which  she  gave  me 
for  a  Christmas  tip. 

You  know,  there  are  always  swell  people  at  the 
Willard,  and  a  tip  of  a  century  note  is  never 
missed,  comparatively  speaking,  by  i)eople  who 

15 


16    THE    CONFESSIONS    OF   A   BELL   BOY 

put  up  at  the  well-known  and  excellent  hotels ;  and 
this  lady  in  question,  who  gladdened  my  budding 
youth  with  one  hundred  dollars  as  a  tip,  sure  had 
the  long  green  in  bundles,  and  in  all  sincerity  I 
hope  she  never  has  the  bad  luck  to  meet  up  with 
any  of  those  summer  resort  porch-walkers — those 
good-looking  guys  with  the  three  suits — ^blue 
serge,  white  flannel  and  evening — and  whose  big 
hit  is  the  saving  from  drowning  these  timid  misses 
who  purposely  get  sand  in  their  stockings  to  show 
that  they  were  bathing,  because  if  she  ever  does, 
it  is  good-bye  to  the  bankroll.  I  put  in  a  season 
at  Brighton  Beach,  and  saw  these  porch-walkers 
work,  rough  in  some  instances,  but  always  pro- 
ductive. 

But  to  get  back  to  my  story : 
'  I  didn't  do  anything  out  of  the  ordinary  to  get 
the  hundred.  Just  polite  and  quick  in  the  serv- 
ices rendered,  unless  it  was  that  her  pets,  a  dog, 
a  eat  and  a  parrot,  seemed  to  take  a  fancy  to  me 
to  such  an  extent  that  I  as  looked  upon  by  the 
lady  as  a  tutor  to  her  bird,  a  thing  for  her  cat  to 
rub  against,  and  the  only  one  in  the  house  that 
petted  Fido. 

You  should  have  seen  the  other  hops  look  in 
surprise  when  I  showed  that  crisp  new  century 
Christmas  morning.  Some  of  them  thought  it  was 
merely  an  errand  to  change  it  for  the  lady,  but 
when  I  took  the  bunch  down  to  Schoonmaker's  on 
the  avenue  and  blew  them  to  the  eats,  and  onca 


THE    CONFESSIONS    OF   A   BELL   BOY    17 

Tip  on  the  busy  water  they  commencea  to  realize 
that  I  was  a  hundred  in. 

I  didn't  sailor  the  money — ^not  by  a  darned  sight. 
Just  got  busy  on  the  new  clothes  thing  and  the  re- 
deeming of  a  glistener  that  uncle  held  and  would 
have  run  out  the  second  week  in  January. 

You  can't  sour  me  on  ancient  females.  They 
may  be  aged  and  crabbed,  but  their  money  is  new 
and  always  welcome. 


*'That  Lonesome  Lucy  act  the  stenographers  do  on 
their  two-weeks'  trip  to  the  Lake  House  runs  for 
Sweeney.  Did  you  ever  yet  see  a  woman  who  could^ 
|)ad(Ue  her  own  canoe?*' 


"Tou  CMi»t  sent  me  on  ancient  females.    They  may  tl9  etiuUcy  and 
<?fa^1»ed,  but  tlteir  monegr  is  new  and  welcome." 


CHAPTER  IV. 


The  Bell-Boy  Splits  Fifty  With  the  Female  BooTc 
Agent  Who  Wanted  to  Make  a  Six  Months' 
Stay  in  Sioux  Falls. 


I  know  you  are  going  to  ha  ha  with  me,  and 
say  easy  picldng,  when  I  tell  you  about  a  coin 
separation  scene  wherein  I  was  on  the  giving  end, 
but  as  there  is  one  born  every  minute  I  think  my 
birth  came  off  in  Binghamton. 

It  was  in  a  two-up  in  the  Parlor  City  where  this 
peach  of  a  book  agent  poured  out  her  life  tale  to 
me.  She  had  a  rate  room  on  the  same  floor  as 
mine,  and  was  working  the  town  on  a  book  called, 
^^Our  Merchant  Princes,''  a  lot  of  dope  about 
Binghamton 's  leading  business  men.  Her  scheme 
was  to  get  the  picture  and  life  story  stuff  of  the 
town's  fall  guys.  She  did  not  charge  them  any- 
thing— ^ot  a  single  penny ^  but  each  merchant 
prince  was  to  be  assessed  his  share  of  the  cost  o:t 
the  book  and  the  illustrations.  Of  course,  some  of 
the  princes  had  more  picture  and  more  reading 
about  them  than  the  others,  and  of  course  again 
paid  a  larger  assessment.  But  this  is  not  what  I 
started  to  tell  you  about.  ' 

19 


20    THE    CONFESSIONS    OF    A    BELL    BOY 

One  night  when  I  was  off  watch  the  little  beauty 
invited  me  into  her  room  to  help  her  get  her  list  of 
princes  arranged  in  form  for  the  printer.  I  did 
not  put  up  a  kick  because  of  being  asked  to  be  a 
literary  guy,  as  a  poor  bell-boy  must  do  anything- 
he  is  requested  to  do  in  those  two-ups. 

Say,  no  wonder  these  fall  guys  of  merchant 
princes  fell  for  that  book  agent's  salve.  When  I 
looked  at  her  in  her  room,  I  though  she  was  about 
the  niftiest  little  skirt  that  I  had  ever  seen,  and 
believe  me,  pal,  I've  noticed  a  few. 

And  she  was  a  good  fellow,  too,  and  seemed  to 
put  a 'lot  of  confidence  in  me,  as  she  told  me  that, 
in  a  girlish  escapade,  whatever  that  meant,  she 
hitched  up  to  a  rah-rah  in  Boston,  who  never  did 
anything  after  their  marriage  but  smoke  cigs  and 
sing  glee  songs.  Anyway,  she  was  working  hard 
to  raise  funds,  as  she  put  it,  to  spend  six  months 
in  Sioux  Falls  and  get  a  divorce  from  her  walking 
encyclopaedia  of  a  husband. 

She  made  an  awful  hit  with  me,  she  did,  and 
when  she  put  her  arms  around  me  and  cried  she 
certainly  made  me  feel  as  if  I'd  just  like  to  land  on 
that  college  guy's  map. 

"Well,  anyway,  I  don't  know  how  she  got  next 
to  it,  but  she  found  out  that  I  had  about  seventy 
dollars  saved  up  for  my  winter  trip  and  Florida 
snap,  and  when  she  asked  me  to  advance — that's 
the  word  she  used — ^her  fifty  dollars  toward  her 
Sioux  Falls  trip,  I  didn't  faU— not  for  the  fifty— 


WlMa  Z  looKed  ftt  lier  in  tbe  room  I  thonght  sbo  wad  tbe  niftiest  sUxt 
Z  bad  «yc;  seeiu 


22    THE    CONFESSIONS    OF    A   BELL   BOY 

but  told  her  I  would  go  half  way  with  her,  and  the 
next  night  I  peeled  off  thirty-five  bones  out  of  m^ 
seventy  bank  roll  and  gave  it  to  that  book  agent 
toward  her  Sioux  Falls  expenses. 

She  beat  it  from  Binghamton  a  short  while  after 

I  with  the  advance  assessments  from  the  merchant 

^  princes  and  my  thirty-five,  and  aU  I  can  say  is 

that  I  might  have  fallen  heavy,  but  I  did  not  feel 

the  drop. 


•*0h,  yes,  I've  played  the  horses  from  Stecpiecliase 
to  'Frisco,  but  the  guy  that  calls  roe  Pittshurgli  VWX 
fenf  got  ae  wrong." 


CHAPTER  V. 


The  Summer  Resort  Porch-Walker  Gets  to  ih& 
Bell-Boy  for  a  Stick-Pin  That  Mamie,  the  News- 
stand Girl,  Gave  Him. 


I  don't  blame  lialf  the  world  for  thinking  that 
the  other  half  is  not  on  the  level.    Nor  am  I  one 
those  weeping  Willies  that  go  around  moan- 
:  ** There's  not  a  soul  in  all  this  world  that 
res  a  darn  for  me." 

I  sometimes  think  it  does  not  pay  to  be  good- 
tured  and  do  the  sad,  sad  tear  act  for  one  in 
ouble,  and  as  for  being  kind^ — oh,  well,  nature's 
t  you  bulged  and  what  you  do  once  you  do  again. 
But,  honest,  it  was  a  shabby  trick  that  poreh- 
alker  at  Brighton  played  me.  And,  mind  you, 
used  to  keep  that  guy  in  makings  while  he  was 
onting  at  the  beach.  And,  oh,  how  he  could 
oke  those  tuberculosis  promoters — cigarettes- 
om  morning  till  night. 

My  old  mother  used  to  say,  ^ '  Give  the  devil  his 
e,"  and  I  will  say  this  about  that  guy,  that  if  he 
d  any  coin  he'd  split  fifty-fifty  with  you;  that  is. 


24    THE    CONFESSIONS    OF    A    BELL    BOY 

if  lie  ever  had  any  coin.    And  as  for  being  wh! 
they  call  a  nice  fellow,  he  certainly  was  a  beaut— 
built  like  Jeffries,  a  josher  like  Joe  Humph 
and  a  better  looking  man  than  Robert  Manceu. 
On  the  level,  I  think  he  was  on  the  house's  pay  roll 
for  doing  the  gallant  with  the  ladies  on  the  porcl 

One  night,  as  I  was  going  off  watch,  I  met  thj 
blue-shirt  hero,  and,  say,  this   guy   would   ha^ 
made  a  dandy  hero  in  ''The  Mills  Must  Close  T| 
Day,  Lads,''  drama,  and  he  was  there  with 
.evening  raiment,  spick  and  span.    He  noticed 
wore  a  stick-pin,  a  little  lover's  knot,  half -karat 
thing,  that    Mamie,    the    newsstand  girl  in   the 
¥nion,  gave  me  and  said : 

''Say,  kiddo,  pretty  goods,  that.'^ 

"Pretty  goods,  what?"  I  asked. 

"Why,  that  little  stick-pin  you've  got  there.  Let 
me  wear  it  to-night,  won't  you,  kid!" 

"Let  you  wear  it  to-night!"  I  said.  "Where 
did  you  ever  see  any  one  wear  stick-pins  in  even- 
ing dress?" 

"Right  as  a  clock,  son,  right  as  a  clock,  but  I 
auto  after  dinner,  kid,  and  I  want  to  wear  it  then." 

Did  I  fall  for  his  wish  that  he  wear  my  pin? 
Yes,  to  be  honest,  I  did,  and  about  ten  o'clock 
that  night  at  Feltman's  there  was  our  porch- 
walker  in  his  natty  blue  serge  suit — the  center  of 
a  jolly  auto  party  and  Mamie's  little  true  lover's 
knot,  half-karat  diamond,  glistening  to  beat  the 
band  in  his  white  tie. 


THE    CONFESSIONS    OF   A   BELL   BOY    25 


Naw,  I  never  got  the  pin  back.  Said  he  lost  it 
kylarking  with  the  ladies  on  the  auto  trip.  But, 
ay,  you  ought  to  see  that  fellow  in  evening  clothes 
t  a  beach  dance. 


**!nie  Waldorf  is  a  great  place  for  tlie  Old  Fos  WSk 


CHAPTER  VI. 


Ihe  Bell'Eop  Declines  to  Be  a  Party  to  a  Frame 
Up  That  Would  Tend  to  Blacken  a  Woman\ 

i  Name,  and  Incidentally  Tells  the  Schemer  < 
Thing  or  Two, 


I  may  be  a  foolisli  mortal  at  times;  I  may  b( 
anxious  for  money  in  the  way  of  tips,  and  I  an 
always  willing  and  anxious  for  them,  and  the  big 
ger  they  come  the  better  I  like  them.  All  of  which 
if  you  have  the  patience,  listens  like  a  little  intro 
duction  to  the  story  of  a  guest  in  a  Paso  Roblef 
Springs  hotel. 

You  know  that  Paso  Robles  Springs  is  on  th( 
Southern  Pacific,  and  it  is  the  one  spot  that  brings 
deserved  praise  to  San  Luis  Opisbo  County  in 
California.  It  is  about  200  miles  from  'Frisco 
and,  as  I  was  coming  back  from  Los  Angeles,  1 
made  a  stop  there,  and  caught  on  for  a  hopping 
job. 

Lots  of  money  guys  at  Paso  Robles  Springs, 
with  nothing  but  time  and  money  to  bother  them. 
True,  there  are  some  people  at  the  Springs  ttIio 
imagine  they  have  all  the  quakes,  shakes  and  aches 
and  everything  from  paralysis  to  paresis,  but  the 
Springs  is  not  the  only  place  where  those  rainy- 
day  folks  are. 

26 


28    THE    CONFESSIONS    OF   A   BELL   BOY 

^  Out  by  tlie  Mission  one  day  on  my  morning  off, 
a  guest  of  the  house  asked  me  to  jump  in  beside 
Mm  on  his  drive  back  to  the  Springs.  When  we 
were  driving  he  said : 

*^Want  to  make  a  hundred  dollars,  son?'' 

** That's  us,"  I  answered. 

'^Easy  money,  boy,"  said  the  guest.  **I  want 
you  to  tell  my  lawyer  that  while  I  was  on  a  busi- 
ness trip  to  'Frisco  my  wife,  in  my  absence,  dined, 
wined  and  autoed  with  strange  men. ' ' 

I  looked  in  disgust  at  the  man  and  said : 

*'A  plant,  hey?" 

'*  You're  right,  boy,  and  you  are  pretty  bright  at 
that.  By  the  way,  son,  make  a  good  story  of  it ; 
you  know  the  drives  out  to  San  Miguel,  Lake  San 
Ysbel  and  the  road  of  moss-covered  oaks,  the  trip 
to  the  Furnace,  and  so  on — just  so  you  get  your 
story  perfect — and  I  will  make  it  two  hundred!" 
the  schemer  said. 

It  is  too  bad  that  I  am  telling  this  story,  be- 
cause it  might  sound  fishy  to  you,  but  it  is  a  fact. 

I  jumped  but  of  that  rig  quick  as  a  flash,  pulled 
the  lines  out  of  the  cur's  hand  so  he  could  not 
drive  off,  and  said : 

*^Come  down  here,  you  cur,  and  I'll  beat  your 
head  off.  You  call  yourself  a  man.  If  ever  you 
start  trouble  for  your  wife  I'll  go  to  court  against 
you.    Come  down  or  drive  on — ^you  brute." 

Get  out  and  fight?  No— not  in  a  thousand  years 
would  a  dog  like  that  man  proved  himself  to  be.    I 


THE    CONFESSIONS   OF   A,  BELL   BOY    29 

threw  him  the  lines  and  called  Hm  a  name  that 
spells  corpse  in  Texas,  and  he  drove  on. 

I  like  tips,  and  hundred-dollar  tips  look  good 
to  me — but  I'll  get  them  for  honest  service  or  not 
at  all. 


"The  man  with  the  Broadway  froat 
doos  not  ah^ays  have  the  Wai.)  3tre^ 
backing. " 


5 


CHAPTER  Vn. 


3f  r.  Bell-Eop  Trails  with  Battling  Nelson  and  Gei 
a  Rubber  Band  Bank  Roll  from  the  Baffler' 
Win  Over  Joe  Gans, 


Caute  pretty  soft  for  me  in  good  old  California 
it  did,  and  as  I  got  coin  in  plenty  in  the  way  of  tip 
from  the  live  ones  who  winter  there,  I  began  t 
feel  quite  Rockerfellerish. 

I  guess  I  am  like  everybody  else  who  feels  a 
if  a  silver  dollar  was  made  ronnd  to  go  'round 
and,  as  my  bank  roll  increased,  I  began  to  hav 
that  hike  feeling  which  means  move  the  boat. 

I  made  up  my  mind  to  get  back  East,  for  tb 
cat  will  always  return  to  its  first  home,  and  b] 
slow  stages,  not  the  Erie  or  B.  &  0.,  by  the  way 
I  got  to  'Frisco  from  Los  Angeles. 

About  the  time  I  reached  'Frisco  that  good  oic- 
town  was  all  excitement  over  the  coming  fight  be 
tween  Battling  Nelson  and  the  chocolate  soldie 
Joe  Gans.     I  had  seen  the  Dane  in  action 
Terry  MoGrovem,  who  the  Battler  in  his  bo 
truthfully  says  *'was  the  greatest  of  them  all  in 
his  day,"  and  I  knew  that  if  the  Dane  could  kee 
that  little  whirlwind,  that  prince  of  good  fello^ 

30 


wu| 
horn 


THE    CONFESSIONS    OP   A   BELL   BOY    31 

Terrible  Terry,  busy,  that  Gans  would  be  an  also- 
ran. 

"Well,  yo-u  ought  to  see  the  crowd  out  to  that 

.  fight  on  July  4th.    Of  course,  the  papers  told  all 

,  about  it,  some  of  them  going  so  far  as  to  say  that 

the  crowd  filled  all  of  San  Mateo  County,  but  it 

was  a  crowd,  and  a  fight,  at  that. 

In  the  tenth  round  of  the  fight  it  looked  like 
Gans'  round,  and  a  bookmaker  seated  near  me 
started  in  to  yell  his  head  off  for  Joe.  He  screamed 
at  the  top  of  his  voice,  **Ten  to  one  on  Gans! 
Ten  to  one  on  Gans ! ' ' 

*'Give  me  fifty  worth  of  that,"  I  said,  and  as 
quick  as  a  flash  the  bookie  said: 

^'You're  on.V 

Everybody  knows  the  result  of  that  fight,  and 
it  seems  to  me  that  every  bell-hop  in  'Frisco  knew 
that  I  had  made  a  winner  on  the  Battler's  victory, 
because  they,  like  all  the  rest  of  humanity  who 
are  in  the  Good  People's  Union,  believe  in  help- 
ing a  friend  in  need. 

In  Chi.,  on  a  recent  visit,  I  came  across  Nel- 
son's book,  *^ Battling  Nelson,"  and  when  I  read 
the  story  of  the  Gans  fight  I  made  up  my  mind 
that  if  I  ever  met  the  Dane  I  would  tell  him  about 
my  five  hundred  win  the  day  he  handed  the  dull, 
sickening  thud  thing  to  the  chocolate  soldier  at 
Colma. 


CHAPTER  VIIL 


'And  Now  It  Is  That  the  Bell-Boy  Breaks  Into 
Rhyme  and  Describes  in  Verse  His  Views  of  the 
Many  Cities  That  He  Has  Visited. 


Yes,  indeed,  I  have  been  around  a  bit  and  I  sup- 
pose you  wonder  why  I  am  so  well  posted  as  to 
the  leading  cities  of  this  country. 

The  explanation  is  easy  and  the  reason  is — ac- 
quired geography.  By  acquired  geography  I  mean 
beating  it  from  one  State  to  another  and  finding 
it  out  by  actual  experience,,  that  is,  learning  the 
capitals  of  the  States,  the  rivers  they  are  on,  etc. 

Mostly  all  bright  school  children  now  the  capi- 
tals of  the  leading  States,  but  not  all  of  the  capi- 
tals. And,  furthermore,  there  are  many  bright 
men  who  do  not  now  the  capital  of  the  State  of 
Kansas.  They  may  now  the  name  of  the  capital 
city  of  Kansas,  but  if  you  want  to  have  fun  with 
your  friends  just  ask: 

^^What  is  the  capital  of  Kansas?'' 

Lots  of  your  friends  will  quickly  answer: 

**Why,  Topeka,  of  course,  on  the — on  the — oh, 
let  me  see — ^what  river  is  Topeka  on?'' 

And  that  is  why!  say  acquired  geography.    Go 

33 


34    THE    CONFESSIONS    OF   A   BELL   BOY 

there  and  see  the  capital  and  swim  in  the  river, 
as  I  did  many  and  many  the  time. 

That  list  of  cities  in  The  Man  With  the  Grip  is 
my  sentiment  of  them,  and,  believe  me,  I  know  the 
*f ollowing  rhymes  by  heart : 

Albany 

Somewhat  hilly,  somewhat  chilly. 

For  some  folks  who  went  away, 
Just  to  see  gay  life  in  Paris 

After  Hughes  had  had  his  say. 

Atlanta 

Growing  every  day. 
Southerners  are  proud  of  her, 
Very  well  they  may. 

Baltimore 

By  the  Chesapeake  it  does  nestle 

'Tis  a  place  of  happy  homes, 
[Where  they  cultivate  the  oyster 

And  delve  into  musty  tomes. 

Boston 

On  Browning,  beans  and  brown  bread, 

The  Common  and  Faneuil  Hall, 
The  boy  with  the  specs  and  retrospects, 

Fair  Boston  has  the  call. 
She's  a  hustling  winner. 


THE    CONFESSIONS    OF   A   BELL   BOY    35 

Brooklyn" 

It  is  nice  as  a  home  city, 

There's  a  big  bridge  to  walE 
LA.nd  a  nickel  will  take  you 

From  it  to  New  York. 

Buffalo 

There  with  the  business, 

There  with  the  cash; 
Hustle  and  bustle, 

Eustle  and  dash. 

Butte 

Going  some,  growing  some, 

Helena  the  same; 
But  Butte 's  got  her  guessing* 

On  the  growing  game. 

Chicago! 

Always  something  doing. 

Always  something  done, 
Ever  on  the  hustle, 

And  it's  rim,  run,  run. 

Cincinnati 

Business  in  daytime, 

Pleasure  at  night, 
!S  good  time  at  all  times, 

If  one  is  in  right. 


^36    THE    CONFESSIONS    OF   A   BELL   BOX 
Cleveland 

On  the  lake,  on  the  make, 

In  the  push  and  bustle; 
Bankers  not  the  wisest  there, 

Woman  made  them  hnstle. 

Denver 

There's  a  city  one  should  see. 

Western  in  its  make; 
If  jouWe  never  made  the  place, 

Bo  for  knowledge  sake. 

Detboit 

Clean  as  a  whistle, 

Straight  as  a  string, 
Looking  for  a  model? 

Detroit's  just  the  thing. 

Hahtford 

Though  biggest  it  is 

In  the  old  State  of  Conn., 
New  Haven  is  hustling 

The  capital  on. 

Indianapolis 

'A  welcome  hand,  a  welcome  smile, 

A  greeting  good  and  strong ; 
If  you're  in  right  in  this  great  town 

You  never  can  go  wrong. 


THE    CONFESSIONS   OF   A   BELL   BOY    37 

Jeksey  City 

It's  opposite  Gotham, 
In  winter  'tis  fine, 
In  summer,  mosquitoes; 
No,  thanks,  none  for  mine. 

Kansas  City 

On  a  bluff  at  present. 

But  it  won't  be  so  always; 
**K  C."  will  be  on  the  level 

Some  of  these  days. 

Louisville 

Famed  the  world  over, 
In  line  with  its  State ; 
Like  good  Old  Kentucky, 
The  dty  is  great. 

Milwaukee 

Good  beer,  good  cheer, 

A  sail  on  the  lake, 
'A  visit  to  breweries, 

And  all  you  can  take. 

MONTBEAU 

Up  to  date  in  customs. 

Though  ancient  in  its  ways; 
A  city  of  churches, 

iWhich  o'er  Brooklyn  lays. 


38    THE  CONFESSIONS    OF    A   BELL    BOX 

Newark 

A  hustling,  bustling,  lively  place, 
One  that  is  growing  each  day, 
In  the  race  Jersey  City  is  not  also  ran, 
1*1     For  Newark  is  running  away. 

New  Orleans 

Great,  greater,  greatest. 

Then  great  and  some  more ; 
[A.  trip  in  the  winter 

When  Eastern  racing  is  o*er. 

New  York 

The  gateway,  the  greatway. 
The  White  Way  has  the  call, 

From  the  Battery  to  Harlem, 
They^re  ^* showing''  them  all. 

Omaha 

Nebraska's  pet, 

And  don't  forget. 
That  she'll  be  heard  from 

Plenty  yet. 

PHILADELPHIi! 

They  say  it  is  staid 

And  quiet  in  its  ways ; 
It  may  be  for  people 

We  speak  of  as  '*  jays,'* 


THE    CONFESSIONS    OF   A   BELL   BOY    39 

Pittsburg 

'A  city  of  great  promise, 

I  should  like  to  live  there, 
[And  then  come  back  to  New  York, 

A  steel  millionaire. 

Portland 

Wliich  one  shall  I  speak  of? 

Be  it  Oregon  or  Maine? 
They^re  both  of  them  winners, 

And  each  shows  a  gain. 

PROVIDBNCE 

The  pet  of  Rhode  Island, 
;    The  capital,  too; 
|f  ^^Rhody"  lost  Providence 
fi  Pray,  what  would  it  do? 

I  Rochester 

Eoehester  is  building  up. 

That  is  what  I  say. 
But  you  ought  to  hear  what  Buffalo  would, 

If  she  had  her  way. 

San  Francisco 

There's  a  charm  in  the  name, 

'Tis  a  dream  of  a  place; 
What  you  can^t  get  in  'Frisco, 

Count  out  of  the  race. 


40    THE    CONFESSIONS    OF   A  BEIiI*  BOIC 

Seattle 

For  the  man  from  Alaska, 

Seattle  is  fine; 
Bring  a  pile  from  the  Klondike, 

And  then  down  the  line. 

Spkingfield 

Is  it  Mass,  or  is  it  Dl? 

That's  for  you  to  say; 
When  I  tell  you  they  are  twins, 

Growing  every  day. 

St.  Lotjis 

Survived  the  shock 

Of  a  great  World's  Fair; 
There  is  plenty  of  business 

And  good  folk  there. 

St.  Paul,  and  Minneapolis 

Aren't  those  twins  a-gettin'  big? 

My,  but  they're  a-growing; 
Can't  tell  which  is  t'other  now, 

Both  make  a  good  showing. 

Tacoma 

Jealous  of  Seattle, 

Because  of  Mount  Eainier; 
Call  it  Mount  Tacoma 

And  then  all  things  will  clear. 


THE    CONFESSIONS   OF   A   BELL   BOZ    41 

Washington 
Our  city  we  call  it, 

For  each  has  a  share 
In  the  pride  of  our  Union 

And  our  President  there. 


««I*Vd  seen  blonde  ladies  enter  the  hotel  that  did  nof^ 
ik  that  way  when  I  brought  up  the  ice  water.' ' 


CHAPTER  IX. 


Once  Agam  a  .Friendly  Flossie  Fleeces  a  Fe 
Legal  Tenders  From  the  Bank  Roll  of  Mr,  Bel 
hop. 


We  had  a  stenographer  at  the  St.  Charles  i 
New  Orleans  that  had  hit  the  Crescent  City  i 
betting  commissioner  for  an  old  gent  who  su 
f ered  from  gout  and  an  over-abundance  of  mone; 
This  was  in  the  days  of  full-swing  racing,  whe 
that  good  old  town  was  full  of  spenders  and  liben 
livers. 

As  a  betting  commissioner  and  a  picker  of  wii 
ners,  my  friend  the  stenographer  was  a  rank  f res 
and,  to  make  a  long  story  short,  lost  out  with  hi 
angel. 

Like  all  those  people  who  trail  the  runners,  tl 
stenographer  would  occasionally  get  a  certain! 
on  a  race,  and,  as  we  were  chummy,  she  let  w 
in  on  a  winner  that  netted  two  hundred  on  my  b( 
of  twenty.  All  this  to  explain  why  this  friendl 
Flossie  of  a  typewriter  knew  that  I  should  ha 
at  least  a  few  dollars  put  by  for  my  summer  hi 
northward. 

Out  of  a  job,  as  betting  commissioner  and  picl 
er.  Miss  Steno  took  up  the  profession  of  stei 

42 


1 


THE    CONFESSIONS    OF   A   BELL   BOY    43 

bgrapher  and  typewriter  with  an  office  on  Canal 
Street,  and,  as  a  side  line,  made  an  occa^onal  bet 
on  the  ponies. 

One  day,  at  the  St.  Charles,  Brock  Murphy  told 
me  that  my  lady  friend  had  phoned  for  me  to  call 
on  her  at  her  office,  on  an  important  matter. 

When  I  got  to  the  office  of  my  fair  friend  she 
handed  me  a  talk  of  a  dead  sure  winner  out  at 
City  Park  that  could  not  (the  old  gag)  lose  un- 
less he  was  shot  dead  on  the  homestretch. 

**You  know,  Kiddo,"  she  said,  as  she  laid  her 
hand  softly  on  my  head  and  stroked  it,  '*I  gave 
you  a  ten-to-one  that  landed,  didn't  I?  Well,  this 
one  is  better.  That  ten-to-one  win  was  a  nose  fin- 
ish, but  this  one  will  be  a  length  at  least.  Be  game. 
Kid.  Hand  me  a  hundred  and  meet  me  at  the 
track  this  afternoon.  I'll  show  you  the  horse,  and 
if  you  don't  like  his  looks  when  on  parade  just 
take  your  hundred  back.  Come  on,  Kiddo,  put  up 
a  hundred  and  split  a  thou  each.  This  speeder 
will  go  to  the  post  twenty  at  least." 

''GrONE  TO  Lunch.    Back  in  Ten  Minutes."* 

Oh,  how  I  wish  that  little  note  was  on  that  sten- 
ographer's door  when  I  called,  for  I  might  have 
been  a  hundred  to  the  good  if  she  had  not  been  in. 

Sure,  I  gave  up  the  hundred  with  visions  of  a 
thousand  in  return,  and  arranged  to  meet  the 
friendly  Flossie  at  the  track. 

Meet  her?  No!  When  I  got  out  there  I  met 
Brock  Murphy,  and  asked  him  if  he  had  seen  the 


44    THE    CONFESSIONS    OF   A   BELL   BOIl        | 

stenographer  at  the  track.    Brock  laughed  an3! 
said : 

**No,  but  I  saw  her  down  at  the  L.  Si  N.  depot 
getting  aboard  the  sleeper.  Looked  to  me  like  a 
getaway.  Kid,  a  real  genuine  getaway.  What  do 
you  like  in  the  third?" 


••I  alw&ys  fight  shy  cff  those  SeTen  Pers  \rliere  XbB 
Tottie  Coughdrcps  house.    The  Merry  Mezxy,  as  a  rule. 


is  strong  on  'Thank  you,  hoy,* 
itoes  fio^  UsXen  like  a  Up*'> 


a  polite  phiase  thai 


CHAPTEE  X. 


At  Last  It  Is  the  Bell-Boy's  Turn  to  Get  Some 
Easy  Money  from  a  Bogus  Mine  Promoter, 


Can  it  be  that  I  am  so  soft-looking  that  every- 
body who  wants  a  little  easy  coin  picks  me  for 
the  mark? 

You  know  that  I  was  the  fall  gny  twice,  but  in 
both  instances  it  was  a  case  of  that  which  gets 
wiser  and  grayer  heads  than  mine,  woman. 

This  attempted  robbery,  for  such  it  would  have 
been  had  I  fallen,  came  off  in  Texas — Houston,  to 
be  correct. 

Yes,  I  presume  you  have  been  there  and  you 
know  what  a  lot  of  promoters  there  are  there  since 
the  oil  days  in  Beaumont. 

This  salve-thrower  whom  I  fleeced  for  fifty,  and 
fleeced  is  the  word,  started  in  on  a  new  line  of 
honey  words.  He  said:  **My  boy,"  said  he, 
**what  do  you  intend  to  do  for  your  future  wel- 
fare ? ' ' 

"My  future  welfare,"  said  I.  ''Well,  I'll  teU 
you,  mister.  I'm  going  to  take  what  money  the 


46    THE    CONFESSIONS    OF   A   BELL   BOY 

skirts  with  winning  ways  and  the  bunk  agents  with 
get-rich-quick  schemes  leave  me  and  start  a  ho- 
siery mill,  because,  mister,  I've  noticed  in  my 
rambles  around  and  keen  observations  that  there's 
an  awful  lot  of  money  in  stockings  nowadays." 

Kidding  him,  yes — that  is,  I  thought  I  was  kid- 
ding the  con  man,  but  my  talk  never  feazed  him. 
He  came  back  strong,  that  guy  did. 

**  Just  the  age  for  levity,  my  boy,  just  the  age. 
iYou'll  have  sense  some  day,  my  boy,  sense  some 
day,"  and  while  he  was  saying  this  the  man 
stepped  over  to  his  grip  and  pulled  out  a  photo 
of  a  mine  scene. 

''See  that  mine,  boy?" 

'*Yes,"  I  answered,  as  I  looked  at  the  pkoto. 

''Well,  my  son,  I  own  that  mine  in  Mexico  and 
I  can  afford  to  sell  shares,  being  the  owner,  you 
see,  at  50  cents  per  share,  and  as  you  are  a  bright 
looking  lad,  and  I  having  as  bright  and  brainy  a 
son  as  you  are  with  a  good  future  before  you,  I 
have  taken  a  fatherly  interest  in  you  and  want  to 
help  you " 

"At  so  much  per  help,"  I  interrupted,  and  again 
never  a  feaze  for  that  petty  larceny  mine  pro- 
moter. 

''Yes,  my  lad,  at  so  much  per  help,  but  so  much 
per  help  less  than  a  non-owner  of  the  mine  could 
quote  you.    In  other  words,  I  again  repeat  I  own  i 
these  mines  in  Mexico  and  I  want  to  help  you,  my 
iboy,  by  quoting  you  shares  at  50c  that  is  listed  on 


•        THE    CONFESSIONS    OF   A   BELL   BOY    47 

the  market  at  $10  per  share,  but  you  must  take 
one  hundred  shares  at  least,  cash  down/' 

Don  *t  ask  me  to  tell  you  how  I  felt  at  this  cheap 
con's  spiel.  It  recalled  the  book  agent  beauty  in 
Binghamton  and  the  stenographer  in  New  Or- 
leans. True,  I  was  easy  with  them,  but  they  were 
what  we  all  love — women — ^lovely  women ;  but  this 
guy — this  weak  imitation  of  the  Wall  Street  brand 
of  bunk— and  trying  to  get  a  bell-hop  for  fifty. 

*^I'll  think  it  over,  mister,"  I  said,  *^and  let  you 
know  to-morrow. ' ' 

When  I  got  downstairs  I  told  the  whole  story 
of  the  Mexican  mine  owner  to  Mike  Costello,  the 
bartender. 

*^Say,  kid,"  said  Mike,  '^why  don't  you  frisk 
him  for  fifty?" 

*'How  frisk  him!"  I  asked,  in  unassumed  inno- 
cence. 

*^Why,  the  old  Beau  Hickman  trick,  Johnny. 
Don't  you  know  it!" 

**No,  I  do  not,"  I  answered. 
''And  you  from  New  York,  at  that,"  said  the 
bartender,  smiling.    ''Beau  Hickman  used  to  work 
it  on  the  wise  men  of  Washington." 

The  bartender  explained  the  Hickman  trick  to 
me  and  I  simply  said : 
"Nothing  doing,  Mike." 

"Not  angry,  are  you  kid!    That  guy  tried  to  . 
get  your  fifty,  didn't  he!    Well,  why  don't  you  try 
to  get  his  fifty.    The  Hickman  trick  is  not  robbery, 


48    THE   CONFESSIONS   OF   A  BELL   BOY 

nor  is  it  considered  illegal  from  an  ethical  point. 
He'd  take  your  fifty,  wouldn't  he,  and  give  you  a 
lot  of  worthless  paper — ^you  take  his  fifty  and  give 
him  a  jolt  that  he  will  long  remember.  If  your 
conscience  pricks  you  about  the  fifty  dollars,  get 
.rid  of  the  fifty — put  it  on  a  horse  or  take  a  flyer 
'in  poker  up  at  the  rooms  to-night.    Think  it  over. ' ' 

*^I  will,  Mike,  I  will,"  I  said  in  reply,  and  then 
bid  the  bartender  good-night. 

** Good-night,  kid,"  said  Costella,  '^but  remem^ 
ber,  Johnny,  that  guy  tried  to  do  you.'* 


CHAPTEE  XI. 


^fter  Due  Deliberation  Our  Hero  Does  the  Frisky 
Thing  a  la  Bean  Hickman,  hut,  As  Usual,  Can- 
I    not  Hold  His  Roll  of  Bills, 


The  bed  tMng  appealed  to  me  just  about  the 
time  I  left  the  cafe  and  it  was  not  ten  minutes 
after  my  talk  with  Cos  before  I  had  turned  in 
for  the  night. 

I  could  not  get  that  cheap  mining  promoter  out 
of  my  mind,  and  the  last  words  of  Cos  as  1  bid 
him  good-night,  **  Remember,  Johnny,  that  guy^ 
tried  to  do  you, ' '  seemed  to  be  ringing  in  my  ears. 

The  more  I  thought  of  the  matter,  the  more  I 
felt  sore  at  the  cheap  swindler,  and  the  longer  I 
stayed  awake  the  longer  the  words,  **  Remember, 
Johnny,  that  guy  tried  to  do  you,"  rang  in  my 
ears. 

tip  bright  and  early  the  next  morning,  still  sore 
at  the  mining  swindler,  and  for  the  first  time  in 
my  life  determined  to  get  some  money  that  I  had 
not  honestly  earned. 

Dick  Ellis,  the  day  clerk,  told  me  that  the  sharp 
had  phoned  down  to  have  me  call  at  Jiis  room 


50     THE    CONFESSIONS    OF    A    BELL    BOY 

when  I  came  on  watch.  I  started  for  the  mining 
man's  room  determined  that  if  he  tried  to  sell 
me  those  shares  I  would  try  to  frisk  him  out  of 
.fifty  dollars  on  the  Beau  Hickman  plan. 

There  he  was,  still  determined,  and  I  started  in : 

*^I  haven't  got  fifty  dollars,  mister,  jff  I  had  I 
could  pay  back  fifty  I  borrowed  and  get  ^  hundred 
or  two  hundred  dollars  from  a  friend  of  mine  here 
in  town. ' ' 

*^That  so!"  said  Mr.  Bunk,  taking  the  bait  and 
taking  it  quick  at  that.         i 

**Are  you  sure,  kid,  that  if  you  could  pay  back 
the  fifty  you  could  borrow  a  hundred  or  two  hun- 
dred dollars?" 

^^Yes,  mister,"  I  answered. 

*^When  could  you  get  the  money,  boy?"  the 
sharper  asked,  warming  up  to  the  subject. 

^ '  Oh,  in  about  an  hour, ' '  I  answered  in  that  man- 
lier made  famous  by  Honey  Boy  Geo.  EvanSf 
ivhose  pet  word  is  nonchalant. 

*^I'll  let  you  have  fifty  dollars  on  one  condition, 
)oy,"  the  bunk  man  said,  *'and  that  condition  is 
hat  you  buy  one  hundred  dollars'  worth  of  stock 
\^ith  the  hundred  you  borrow  from  your  friend. ' ' 

Catch  that,  do  you?  Gives  me  fifty  to  get  a 
lundred  from  me  and  on  his  own  investment  nets 
ifty.  He  certainly  was  the  cheapest  con  man  I've 
ver  seen. 

Yes,  you  are  right.  I  got  his  fifty,  but  he  never 
ot  a  hundred  back  from  me.    They  pinched  the 


m    THE    CONFESSIONS    OF   A   BELL   BOY 

I 

swindler  on  a  warrant  from  Galveston,  and,  hon- 
estly, the  day  I  went  to  the  jail  to  see  him  he 
cried  like  a  child  when  I  gave  him  his  fifty  dol- 
lars b)^ck  and  told  me  that  when  he  got  out  of  his 
scrape  he  was  going  to  turn  square  guy.  I  felt 
like  telling  him  he  was  never  built  to  be  a  square 
guy,  but  I  didn't,  and,  honestly,  I  kind  of  got  to 
like  the  poor  fellow  from  calling  on  him  with 
cigars  and  little  things  the  bunch  at  the  hotel  used 
to  send  him. 


CHAPTER  Xn. 


mt  ^Lasi  We  Find  That  the  Hustling  Ice  Water 
Bearer  Is  Only  Human  After  All — It  Is  a  Heart 
Affair,  in  Which  Mamie,  the  Newsstand  Girl, 
Plays  an  Important  Part. 


Surest  thing  you  now.  Sweetheart,  yes.  And 
one  of  the  nicest  little  queens  you  ever  met. 

I  was  doing  the  hop  act  in  K.  C,  in  a  hotel  well 
known  as  the  hest  commercial  travelers^  hotel  in 
Kansas  City.  ' 

A  little  peach  of  a  she  had  charge  of  the  news- 
stand at  the  house,  and  I,  like  many  more  of  the 
hops  of  the  place,  used  to  roll  the  bones  with  her 
for  cigars. 

We  often  went  out  together,  did  Mamie  and  I, 
and  from  what  Laura  Jane  Beefextract  would  call 
in  her  novel,  an  innocent  flirtation,  it  became  a 
case  of  steady,  with  Sunday,  Wednesday  and  Fri- 
day red-lettered  in  my  date  book. 

Mamie  and  I  meant  business,  we  did,  and  per- 
haps all  would  have  been  well  and  happy  for  us, 
had  she  not,  in  her  Kansas  City  girlish  foolish- 
ness, accepted  a  ring  from  a  kike  jewelry  drum- 
mer.   Oh,  it  was  a  good  ring  all  right,  and  one  of 

53 


54    THE    CONFESSIONS    OF   A   BELL   BOY 

the  kind  that  spelled  engagement  for  any  one  Knfi 
Mamie. 

That  lovers'  quarrel  thing  came  off,  and  I — » 
well,  I  just  did  the  day-day  sign  to  the  boys  and 
Wabashed  to  St.  Louis. 

I  am  making  this  confession,  and  I  will  make  it 
right.  I  could  not  get  Mamie  the  newsstand  girl 
out  of  my  mind.  Did  not  look  for  a  job  in  St. 
Louis.  Just  took  the  wrong  route — the  booze  lane, 
and  hit  the  pipe  to  forget  all  about  that  love  af- 
fair of  mine  in  Kansas  City. 

But,  never  again,  that  pipe  thing  for  me.  I  may 
souse  up  once  or  twice  a  year  and  always  do  take 
a  glass  or  two  of  beer,  but  the  dope,  by  the  pipe- 
line, as  my  friend  Tom  Powers,  the  Joy  and  Gloom 
artist,  says:  ^^ Never  again!" 

Still,  I  have  to  smile  when  I  think  of  smoking 
dope.  Oh,  no,  St.  Louis  was  not  my  first  butt 
against  it.  Out  in  Seattle,  on  my  first  trip  there, 
we  did  the  Chink  section,  and  I  blew  a  whiff  or 
two  one  night — a  night  I  will  never  forget. 

After  hitting  the  pipe  in  that  joint  in  Seattle  I 
imagined  I  was  as  rich  as  James  Thornton,  as  gen- 
erous as  Tom  Sharkey,  as  fat  as  George  M.  Cohan, 
and  as  handsome  as  Charley  Bigelow.  Isn't  dope 
the  peculiar  thing?    And  yet  some  folks  like  it. 

That's  me.  Go  rambling  off  in  another  direc- 
tion on  the  story  instead  of  sticking  to  the  sub- 
ject of  my  love  affair  with  that  little  darling  of  ^ 
newsstand  girl  I  had  in  Kansas  City.  i 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


iamie,  the  Newsstand  Girl,  Gets  Back  Her  Bonny 
Boy,  Through  Tessie  the  Stenographer,  Who 
Meets  the  Hopper  in  St.  Louis, 


I  certainly  was  the  ill  person  in  St.  Louis, 
[irongh  the  heart  affair  and  the  worry  and  my 
Dolish  indulgence  in  the  booze  and  dope  things, 
nd  when  I  woke  up  one  morning  in  the  room  of 

"^^'^ll-hop  friend  at  the  Jefferson  without  a  penny 
in  my  pocket  I  simply  said,  *M^m  through.'' 

Nig  Davis  fixed  me  up  for  a  half  century  and 
elped  me  to  get  in  shape  again.  In  fact,  he  made 
le  stay  in  his  room  for  two  days  until  I  was  all 
ght  for  the  street. 

I  bid  Nig  good-bye  on  a  Monday  and  started  for 
lie  Union  Station  determined  to  take  the  flyer 
>r  Chi.  It  seemed  to  me  that  even  St.  Louis  was 
|o  near  K.  C.  for  me. 

But  the  best  laid  plans  of  older  heads  than  mine 

iscarry,  and  instead  of  a  trip  to  Chi.  I  Wabashed 

ck  to  Kansas  City  and  to — and  to — oh,  well,  to 

amie,  the  newsstand  girl. 

Tessie,  the  stenographer  at  the  house  in  K.  C. 
Mamie  were  pals,  as  were  Tessie 's  sweetheart, 

55 


56    THE    CONFESSIONS    OF   A   BELL   BOY 

'Joe  Daley,  the  key  clerk,  and  I,  and  to  make  a  lon| 
story  short,  Daley  and  Tessie  cooked  up  a  schema 
whereby  they  landed  me  in  St.  Louis.  In  fad 
through  my  letters  to  Daley,  Mamie  knew  I  wa 
over  in  the  Mound  City,  as  some  guys  call  Si 
Looie. 

Just  as  I  was  going  over  to  the  ticket  window 
to  say  **One  first-class  to  Chicago,"  somebody  pu 
their  hand  on  my  shoulder  and  said : 

**I  want  you,  kid!'' 

"When  I  turned  around  there  stood  Tessie,  th( 
house  stenographer.  She  was  on  a  vacation  trip  t( 
her  home  in  East  St.  Louis,  and  told  Mamie  be 
fore  leaving  K.  C.  that  she  would  look  me  up  anc 
make  me  return  to  the  best  little  girl  in  the  world 

Well,  I  had  to  do  the  gallant  for  Tessie  on  tk 
eats  thing,  and  as  we  sat  together  in  the  Jefferson 
dining  hall,  I  guess  we  were  as  happy  a  young 
pair  as  could  be,  because  Tessie  had  my  promise 
that  I  would  go  back  to  K.  C.  that  night  and  I. 
because  I  knew  I  would  go  back. 

No,  I  won't  detain  you  by  telling  of  my  meeting 
with  Mamie  on  my  return  to  Kansas  City,  but^ 
will  say  that  I  told  her  if  she  ever  took  any  moj 
jewelry  from  kike  salesmen  she  and  I  would 
two,  while  just  then  the  chances  were  that  she 
I  would  soon  be  one. 


CHAPTER  XIV, 


The  Foolish  Boy,  Our  B ell-Hop  Hero,  ^ccumi^ 
lates  a  Bank  Roll  and  Again — Well,  the  Same 
-  Old  Story, 


Out  Bntte  way  if  a  kid's  on  the  level  he  can  raise 
the  coin.  That's  the  burg  where  the  tips  look  like 
tips  that  are  tips. 

A  mine  owner,  the  real  kind  and  not  the  Mexi- 
can bunk  brand,  was  doing  his  best  to  get  off  of 
a  two  weeks'  souse.  He  was  under  cover  and  I 
had  the  job  of  assisting  the  good  person  to  get 
on  his  feet. 

In  Butte,  just  the  same  as  any  other  town  nowa- 
days, they  have  no  use  for  a  liquor  lapper — ^not 
even  if  he  is  a  rich  man,  and  this  gentleman  who 
was  getting  off  his  spree  knew  that.  He  had  ar- 
ranged with  the  house  manager  for  my  services, 
and  I  had  to  stay  in  the  suite  at  night  as  company 
— that  is,  this  man  was  afraid  to  be  alone. 

I  never  had  and  hope  I  never  do  have  the  frisk- 
ing elephant  and  wriggling  snake  visions  that  this 
good  soul  had  while  he  was  in  his  room,  and  some- 
times it  was  pretty  hard  on  the  doctor,  nurse  and 
me  to  help  him. 

When  my  patient  got  around  all  right  he  showed 

67 


58    THE    CONFESSIONS   OF   A  BELL  BOY 

much  appreciation  of  the  services  rendered — paid 
the  doctor  a  fat  fee,  gave  the  nurse  a  good  penny, 
and  then  sent  for  me. 


**  My  mother  and  little  sister  and  even  onr  old  TsLtibw 
cat  and  her  litter  of  kittens  know  that  their  Wander-' 
ing  Boy  never  forgets  them,  hut  sends  a  weekly  letter 
With  his  tinaed  lots  of  love  and  kisses;'* 


\1    THE    CONFESSIONS    OF   A   BELL   BOY    59 

*  *  Boy, ' '  said  he, '  ^  do  you  ever  think  of  the  folks 
Ijfoack  East!'' 

**Yes,  sir,"  I  replied.  ''My  mother  and  little 
sister  and  even  our  old  tabby  eat  and  her  litter 
of  kittens  knows  that  their  wandering  boy  never 
forgets  them,  but  sends  a  weekly  letter  with  his 
tips  and  lots  of  love  and  kisses." 

'*My  boy,"  said  the  mine  owner,  ''you  go  back 
{East  to  your  mother  and  sister,  the  cat  and  the 
j  kittens.  Gret  yourself  some  new  clothes ;  I  will  pro- 
Lvide  for  your  transportation  and  Pullman  arrange- 
ments. When  you  start  on  your  trip  the  manager 
jwill  hand  you  an  envelope  containing  your  pay  for 
good  services  rendered  to  me.  He  will  pay  the  bill 
ifor  your  clothing  outfit  and  as  a  remembrance  of 
jme  take  this  hundred  dollars  to  your  little  sister 
;and  fifty  more  for  milk  for  the  cat  and  her 
Ikittens." 

'  What  a  waste  of  money,  I  thought.  Fifty  dol- 
lars for  milk  for  the  cat  and  her  kittens.  How- 
ever, I  did  as  the  gentleman  requested,  but  took 
;no  chances  on  holding  the  one  fifty.  Uncle  Sam's 
money  order  for  that  sum,  payable  to  mother,  and 
sent  in  my  weekly  letter  as  the  wandering  boy's 
tip. 

'■     Counting  the  clothes,  ducket  to  New  York  and 
the  money  in  the  envelope  which  the  manager  had 
for  me  (not  mentioning  the  hundred  and  fifty  sent  . 
home,  my  services  to  the  Butte  mining  king — and 
piking  he  was — ^meant  five  centuries  for  me. 


60    THE   CONFESSIONS   OP  '£1  BELL   BOY    \t 

I  bid  the  bunch  good-bye  at  the  Thornton  and 
pulled  away  from  Butte  on  the  North  Coast  Lim^ 
ited,  that  class  train  on  the  Northern  Pacific,  with! 
money  in  my  clothes,  bound  to  New  York  to  mingle 
(1  felt  wealthy)  with  such  leading  lights  of  th^ 
hotel  world  as  James  Began,  of  the  Knickerbock- ' 
er;  Simeon  Ford  of  the  Grand  Union,  Frederick 
Sterry  of  the  Plaza,  W.  E.  Wooly  of  the  Marie 
Antoinette,  E.  M.  Hann  of  the  St.  Eegis,  George 
W.  Sweeney  of  the  Victoria,  William  Hauck  of  the 
Manhattan,  Gustavus  Bauman  and  Mr.  Boldt  of 
the  Waldorf,  all  of  whom  can  be  classed  as  the  best 
people  in  the  hotel  or  any  other  worlds 


Ogilvie^s  Popular 
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1    A  KENTUCKY  EDITOR,  Read 
7  200  OLD  TIME  SONGS 

21  MORE  TO  BE  PITED  THAN 
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22  DESERTED  AT  THE  ALTAR  ^ 
I'  rata  wmifi'mv^^^sstmi^M  Grace  M  il  le  r  Wh  itd| 
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GIRLS...... Grace  Miller  White 

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Richard  Henry  Savage 

37  MY  OFFICIAL  WIFE Richard  Henry  Savage 

40  MACON    MOORE Judson   R.   Taylor; 

42  THE  DREAM   OF  LOVE Emil  Zola 

49  WEDDED  TO  ONE  BUT  LOVING  ANOTHER 

D.  Nelson  &  F.  C  Henderschott 
53  TEN  TRUE  SECRET  SERVICE  STORIES... D.  B.  Shaw 
56  THE  ASHES  OF  LOVE Charles  Garvice 

58  ARSENE  LUPIN,  GENTLEMAN  BURGLAR,  M.  Leblanc 

59  ARSENE  LUPIN  vs.  HERLOCK  SHOLMES,  M,  Leblanc : 

61  100  STORIES   IN   BLACK Bridges   Smith 

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63  THE  CHINATOWN  TRUNK  MYSTERY.. Olive  Harper 

64  SHERLOCK  HOLMES  DETECTIVE  STORIES.  ...Doyle  ^ 

66  A  WOUNDED  HEART Charles  Garvice 

67  A  BAD  BOY'S  DIARY .....By  Hlmsell 

68  THE  HUMOROUS  MR.  BOWSER M.  Qua<3[ 

70  ONLY  A  GIRL'S  LOVE Charles  Garvice 

7\  ISHMAEL ....Mrs.  E.  D.  R   N.  Southworth 

72  SFLF-RAISED Mrs.  E.  D.  E.  N.  SouthwortK 

74  THE  TESTING  OF  OLIVE  VAUGHAN....P,  J.  Brebner; 

76   SPRTGGS.  THE   CRACKSMAN... Headon   HiLii 

79  FATE , OiARLBS   Garvice' 

>6  A  WOMAN'S  TEMPTATION Bertha  M.  Clay' 

;87  BEYOND   PARDON ...Bertha  M.   ClaV! 

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108  THE  CLEMElvrCEAU  CASE  (Photoplay  Ed.)Alex.  Dumas 

109  THE  BONDMAN  (Photoplay  Edition) Hall  Caine 

110  WIFE  IN  NAME  ONLY ..Bertha  M.  Day 

111  THE  CATTLE  RUSTLERS  OF  WYOMING  Ford  Douglass 

112  SHE  (Photoplay  Edition,  Illustrated) H.  Rider  Haggard 

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117  FRED  BENNETT,  THE  MORMON  DETECTIVE, 

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118  THE  WOMAN  STEALER...       Harry  Mills 

119  TORPEDOED  IN  THE  MEDITERRANEAN. ..  .Johnson 

120  WHICH  LOVED  HIM  BEST.... Bertha  M.  Clay 

121  BETWEEN   TW^O  LOVES .Bertha  M.   Clay 

122  THE    ROBBER    KING .Patrick    Tyrell 

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125  BEYOND    THE   LAW Emmett    Dalton 

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A  BLOND  CREOLE.  By  A.  H.  Hilton. 
A  story  of  New   Orleans   and  the 
temptations  which  beset  a  beauti- 
ful woman. 
THE  KREUTZER  SONATA.    By  Count 
Leo  Tolstoi.     The  book  that  made 
the  author's  reputation.    He  brings 
home  most  forcibly  the  moral  prin- 
ciple which  should  govern  the  sex 
relation. of  man  and  woman,  mar- 
ried   or    single,    particularly    the 
married  class.     It  should  be  read 
by  everyone  of  mature  years. 
BUFFALO  BILL,  And  His  Adventures  in  the  West    By  Ned 
Buntline.    The  best  fiction  narrative  ever  written  about  one 
of  the  most  widely  known  and  popular  characters  in  Ameri- 
can life. 
ANOTHER  MAN'S  WIFE.    By  Grace  Miller  White. 
BjiSERTED  AT  THE  ALTAR.    By  Grace  Miller  White. 
'"^ANGERS  OF  WORKING  GIRLS.    By  Grace  Miller  White. 
PASSION  HIS  MASTER.    A  tale  of  love.    By  Clara  E.  Ballou. 
SAINT  AND  SINNER;  or,  A  Great  Temptation.  By  Fanny  May. 
THE  CONFESSIONS  OF  A  WIFE;    or,  How  Her  Sin  Found 

Her  Ont.    By  Grace  Miller  White. 
WHY  WOMEN  SIN.    A  romantic  story  founded  on  the  play  of 

the  same  name.    By  Grace  Miller  White. 

THE  PRICE  INEVITABLE ;  or,  The  Confessions  of  Irene.  By 

Aurelia  I.  Sidner.  A  story  of  the  loves  of  a  divorced  woman. 

THE  LETTERS  OF  MILDRED'S  MOTHER  TO  MILDRED. 

Satirical  sketches  of  stage  life,  occasioning  conjectures  as 

to  "what  sort  of  a  woman  was  Mildred's  mother?" 

SAPPHO.    By  Alphonse  Daudet.    A  story  of  Parisian  life  and 

morals  depicted  by  a  master  hand. 
THE  CONFESSIONS  OF  A  PRINCESS.    Amazing  revelations 

of  court  life,  and  a  romantic  woman's  temperament. 
ANNA  KARENINE.    By  Count  Leo  Tolstoi.    A  story  as  strong 

and  vital  as  "The  Kreutzer  Sonata." 
FAST  LIFE  IN  NEW  YORK.    By  G.  M.  White.    Founded  on 
the  play. 

The  above  books  contain  200  to  400  pages  each,  bound  in' 
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LIVE  A  NEW  LIFE!   THRILL!   EXPANDl 
WHERE  MEN  ARE  MEN! 

Wl'ere  the  crust  of  civilization  is  broken 
through  by  Volcanoes  of  Human  Pas- 
sion. Where  the  artificial  veneer  of  so- 
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elemental  forces  of  nature.  Where  the 
rending  crash  of  forest  giants  is  mingled 
v/ith  the  warning  cries  of  the  burly  lum- 
berjacks. Where  men  drink,  fight  hard 
and  die  with  their  boots  on.  Where  only 
the  fittest  survive  and  life  is  lived  in  the 
raw;„;In  the  great  timberlands  of  the 
north,  the;  cruising  ground  of  the  lum- 
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of  the  north. 


TWENTY  YEARS  A  LUMBERJACK 

By  J.  B.  HALL. 

He  brings  home  to  you  with  vivid  clearness  the  turbulent  life 
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HE  WILL  HOLD  YOU  SPELLBOUND 
FROM  COVER  TO  COVER 

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TliXAS  SlFTINGS 


TEXAS  IN  ITS  PALMV  DAYS!   TEXAS  IN  ITS  GLORY! 

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are  only  the  up-to-date  development  of  the  idea  pro- 
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20,000  LEAOOES  y^OER  THE  SEA,  by  Jules  Verne, 
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CONTAINS  INFOBIOATION  OF  BABE  YALXTE  FOB  AIX  CLASSBS» 
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■were  formerly  published  at^ 
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OI.D  SKCRKTS  AND  NEfV 
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Old  Secrets; 

SeerMH   for  Farmers^ 

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It  Tells  how  to  make  a  cheap  Galvanic  Battery;    how  to  plate  and  gild 
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to  make  a  '-'orse  temporarily  lame;  how  to  make  him  stand  by  his 
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Ift  Tells  how  to  make  the  eggs  of  Pharo's  Serpents,  from  which,  when 
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coiling,    hissing  serpent,   wonderful    In  length   and   Biaailarlty   to  • 
genuine  serpent 
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\  BO  that  any  person    can  .•astonish   an   audience,   as  has  been   done. 

i  Also   scores   of  other   wonderful    things  which   we   have   no   roomi 

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r,  O.  BOX  767,  C.  H.  STA.  67  ROSE  STREET.  NEV^  YORK 


Hills,  I  Have  Something  to  Tell  You 

^^        aad  you  will  find  H  la  the  bo0^ 

LOVE,  COURTSHIP 
AND  MARRiADIi, 

By 
A  Woman  of  the  World 

The  hunt  for  happiness  is  universal — continuing  1\^:3 
^e  cradle  to  the  grave — ^and  the  science  of  happy  Hving 
,s  one  v^ell  worth  study.    This  book  gives  a  series  of  plain 
talks  by  a  woman  who  Iniows  what  she  is  talkng  about 
She    explains    how    girls    may    become    happy    wives, 
md  bachelors  become  happy  husbands.    It  contaiK3  c^B^\ 
i>lete  mstractions  for  declaring  intei]J:iQjas,,.acc£pbjClg:^ 
ifrd  retaining  affectionsrbbtli  "Before  and  after  marriag^ 
[t  also  tells  plainly  how  to  begin  courting ;  the  way  to  get 
3ver  bashf ulness ;  the  way  to  "brace  up  and  be  a  man" ; 
the  vi^.y  to  find  the  soft  spot  in  a  sweetheart's  heart ;.  how  ^ 
to  bring  about  a  proposal;   about  the  wedding  day,  the 
bride's  dress,  veil,  hat,  parasol,  bouquet,  bridesmaids,  the 
g^room's  clothes,  the  best  man,  the  minister,  the  music,  rice, 
Bowers,  etc. 

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fcoiDs  of  courting  and  marrying  in  foreign  lands  and  an* 
aent  times,  which  makes  altogether  a  book  some  nart  of 

hich  is  bound  to  prove  of  interest  to  the  reader,  be  he 

'  or  young,  grave  or  gay,  studious  or  thoughtless, 

member,  from  some  one  little  thing  in  this  book  yoisf 
be  spared  a  life  of  misery. 

e  book  contains  122  pages,  printed  in  larj^c  type  on 
paper,  and  will  be  sent  by  mail,  postpaid,  to  aay 
dress,  on  receipt  of  Price,  ,25  cents. 


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ai^<l  HOCI>  YOUR  BREA.TH  wHen  :^o«»  rea. 


Fred  Bennet 
the  Mormon 
Detective 

BY 

U.  S.  MARSHAL  BENNET 


MORMONS!        MOFJMONS!        MOK.MCrJS 
All  about  the  MORMONS  and  the  HMEMS  OF  TEE  ¥v  SSI 

[n  this  astounding  record  of  fact  that  puts  fiction  to  blush, 
revealed  all  the  vicious  and  secret  doings  and  profligate  prswti 
of  Mormondom. 

You  visit  the  secret  chambers  of  the  Endowment  houses  i 
Salt  Ivake  City,  TKe  Paradise  of  tSio  Polyga^rjuisH 
and  with  astonishment  view  the  converts  to  the  "faith"  in  ,l  sta 
of  nudity,  sealed  for  life  to  their  lecherous  partners. 

Follow  the  author  on  his  deadly,  dangerous,  hair-raisi..  ,  .^. 
in  the  Western  wilds  as  he  despoils  the  individual  harems  and  det 
of  vice  and  incest  of  their  degraded  occupants. 

K.]B:AD!    BuBAD!    read   of  T!!S  TURKS  of  UTA 
AND  THEIR  DEBASED  ODALISKS;  POLYGAMY  IN  ITS  PlIM 

Read  how  U:ic:le  Sam  threw  a  bomb  into  the  Constantinople  < 
^/  the  West,  rescued  deluded  women  from  bondage,  and  stopped  tJ 
polygamous  practices  of  sensuous  satyrs. 
HYPOCRISY  UMMASKED!  LUST  LAID  BARE !  VICE  EXPOSE] 

FRED  BENNETT  THE  MORMON  DETECTIVE  is  a  book 

'  283  pages  bound  in  paper  covers  attractively  printed  in  colors,  a 

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J.  a  OGILVIE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 


S7  Rose  Street 


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*C%e  Story  3>:th  the  ^unchi 
The  Ileal  Goods  If 
Vhe  Hot  Stuff!!! 
All  Pep  from  tlie   Word  Qo!!^ 

CAHLE  RUSTLERS 
Of  WYOMING 

By  FORD  DOUGLAS. 
The  Talk  of  the  Town !    The  Sensation  of  the  Hour  I 
The  Forty-Two  Centimetre  Gun  of  Fiction! ! ! 

sre  is  the  west  as  you  have  dreamed  of  it,  with  its  sage  brush 
.s,  sighing  pines,  bellowing  steers,  rolling  foothills,  mystic 
ons,  snow  capped  mountains,  dare  devil  cow-punchers,  ti*» 

gamblers,  painted  red  skins,  lawless  cattle  rustlers,  murd- 
s  bad  men,  fascinating  fairies  of  the  frontier  saloons,  suscep- 

tenderfoot. 

THEY  ARE  ALL  HERE 

ept  by  the  authors  magic  pen  into  the  mazes  of  a  soul  stirriag 
ilooded,  hair  raising  romance,  which  deals  with  the  loves, 
and  primitive  passions  of  a  wild,  fearless,  fast  living,  hard 
g  race.  ' 

A  Frontier  Classic !    The  Real  Goods ! 
Written  by  a  Master  Hand. 

mush,  slosh,  or  trash,  but  a  stirring  truthful  record  of  the 
cattle  wars  of  the  early  '90's. 

Everything  Clicks  like  a  Colt  38  I 

ikes  the  European  war  seem  tame  and  life  in  the  trenches  a 
>ral  of  peace  in  comparison. 

All  Aboard  for  the  Wild  and  Woolly  West. 

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J.  S.  OGILVIE  PUBLISHING  CO. 

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I  ONE, 


You  are  Courting, 
whicli    117    you  want  to  Court,  or 

you  want  to  be  Courteii^ 

you  sliould  obtain  at  tlie  earliest  possible  momeni 

HOW  TO  WOO  2  WH53N  ANO  WHOM,  which  gives  full  an 

intaresf-ing  rules  fi>r  the  etlqnstto  of  courtship,  the  time  an 
|)laee  fVr  condacting  the  same,  and  some  good  advice  as  t 
the  se1o.:bion,of  your  partner  for  iue. 
courts: ZiP  A?;!>  MAfr^RSAQE,  which,  tells  Kw  to  -r 
favor  o2  the  ladies,  how  to  begin  and  end  a  conrtsl 
^  ^^ft^-^"'   '  ""^     "      '""  .;i2SiiiQ31j'*  andalno  give?  frill  inforii..ai.io 
"IE  TOr  i'catioife,  gii!:3,  ushers,  bsidesmaids,  coi 

duct  c ■-    ..^  v/ ^  - , -.  ,,,;  ceremony,  etc.,  etc. 
THE  l^OVm'S  OUiDH,  which  gives  the  flirtations  of  the  ha; 
.^j/   kerohi  4  parasol,  glove,  fan  aud  napl-in  ;  aliO,  t;he  lanr-"    ' 
/**!!«;flOwer.  y  how  to  itis3  dolicionsly  i  and  a  cure  for  bashi 
THE  POPULAR  ff^ETTER  WRITER,  which  tells  how  to  ,., 
bus-iinosSj,  Kociai',  and  loYQ  iet-ters,  giving  numerous  examp. 
of  all.  • 

'f   This  valuable  wort,  containing  tlie  four  books 

r.ieotaoneid,  is  issued  in  one  volume  under  the  Iji. 
HOW'  TO  WOO,  and  it  will  be  sent  to  any  addrfe^. 
^ostp  idj  upon  receipt  of  25  cents  in  U.  S;  postag 
#iiciii\prj  or  money.    Address  all  orders  to 

J.  S.  OOTL¥IE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY. 
:?.  0-  Box  76T.  57  EOSE  STEESI!.  HEW  YQM 


Beyond 
THE  Law 


B7 

EMMETT  DALTON 

Only  survivor  of  the  famous  Dalton  Gang 


The  "Daltoti  Gang"  were  a  band  of  desperadoes  who  for 
ars  terrorized  the  Western  States  of  America,  Gommitting 
lin  robberies  and  holding-up  banks  until  its  members,  save  the 
ithor,  were  killed  while  attempting  to  rob  a  bank  at  Coffeyville. 
•ied  and  found  guilty,  be  was  sentenced  to  a  long  term  of 
prisonmeot.  Although  fully  cx)nscious  that  the  outrages  his 
others  and  he  committed  were  wrong  and  that  the  sentence 
Jted  out  to  hira  was  a  just  one,  Emmett  Dalton  believes  that 
the  public  only  knew  the  circumstances  in  which  they  were 
I  to  take  up  arms  against  law  and  order  they  would  not  ^udge 
harshly  hum  or  those  who  have  paid  the  penalty  of  their  mis- 
ids  with  their  lives.  It  is  because  of  this,  and  the  fact  that  so 
iny  writers  have  woven  so  much  falsehood  into  their  accounts. 
It  he  has  been  induced  to  place  on  record  a  true  and  faithful 
:ount  of  the  exj^loits  of  this  once  notorious  band.  It  is  some- 
lat  strange  that  before  these  men  turned  bandits  they  should 
ve  honorably  filled  the  role  of  Deputy- Marshals,  when  they 
ked  their  lives  over  and  over  again  in  attempting  to  put  down 
5  very  outrages  they  themselves  subsequently  committed.  We 
^e  the  story  as  Emmett  Dalton  has  written!  it,  a  plain,  straight- 
rward,  and  unvarnished  narrative  of  stirring  times  and  terrible 
ids.  It  will  be  found  both  fascinating  and  thrilling,  and  . 
tiable  in  that  it  throws  a  vivid  light  upon  the  wild  lawlessness  f 
ich  existed  in  the  West  in  the  early  'eighties  and  'nineties.       i 

Beyond  the  Law  contains  190  pages  with  eleven  illustrations,  ' 
printed  from  new,  large  type,   and  bound  in  attractive  paper 
ers  printed  in  colors.       For  sale  by  booksellers  everywhere,  or 
It  by  mail  postpaid  on  receipt  of  Price,  35  Cents. 

J.  S.  OGILVIE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 


7,C.H.Sla. 


57  Rose  St,  New  York] 


Right  Here!   Right  Now!   Read- 

THE  ROBBER  KINS 

The  Shell  Shocker  of  Detective  Storit 
The  Pike's  Peak  of  Grlminal  Literatiii 

BY 

PATRICK  TYRELL 

OF  THE  CHICAGO  POL  C£ 

THE  STORY  OF  A  THOUSAND  THRILLS! 

An  unparalleled  record  of  love,  crime  and  reckl 
idaring.  Jim  Barron,  bank  robber  and  hold-up  man, 
pursued  through  a  maze  of  criminal  deeds  that  astoun 
and  stagger  the  imagination  and  hold  the  reader  spel 
bound.  Aided  by  his  paramour,  a  beautiful  vampire  c 
the  underworld,  Jim  Barron  successfully  defies  the  la\ 
relentlessly  pursued  by  Detective  Tyrell,  through  whos 
instrumentality  the  Robber  Kingfs  career  is  fina" 
brought  to  a  violent  end. 

VIBftANT  WITH  THE  STIMULUS  OF  DEVILTRY  AND  UM 

The  whole  matchlessly  blended  i*  a  story  of 

GRIPPtNG,  WONDROUS  AND  THRILLING  INTERE^ 

THE  ROBBER  KING  contains  168  pages  oi  .. 
eading  matter,  bound  in  attractive  paper  cover  printed 
jfcolors.     For  sale  by  booksellers  and  newsdealers 
where,  or  sent  by  mail,  postpaid,  on  receipt  of  Pric^ 
Cents. 

J.S.OGILVIE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

BOX  767,  C.  H.  STA.  57  ROSE  STREET,  NEV/  Y< 


B-R.R.R  !        BIFF  ! !        BANG  !  1 1 

TORPEDOED 

IN  THE  MEDITERRANEAN! 

Adrift  in  the  Submarine  Infested  Waters 
of  the  War  Zone ! 


By  E.  H.  JOHNSON  ^ 

A  Victim  of  German  Prigbtfulaess 

Unequalled  and  Unsurpassed 

The  War's  Best  and  Most  Hair  Raising 
Narrative 

BATTLING  WITH  THE  GERMAN  U   BOATS 
A  Book  That  Will  Stir  Your  Yankee  Doodle  Blood  to  Fever  Heet 

Read  how  the  author  witnessed  the  sinking  of  com- 
rade ships;  watch  his  vessel  trailed  by  hostile  raiders; 
hear  the  roar  of  the  deadly  Hun  torpedo;  view  his  good 
ship  as  it  sinks  beneath  him  and  his  struggles  for  life, 
and  see  him  at  sea  a  castaway  on  the  northern  coast  of 
distant  Africa. 

Truth  That  MaKes  Fiction  Tame  and  Tedious.! 
The  U  Boats  Are  BlocRing  Our  Coasts. 

Read  this  astounding  story  of  the  pirates  of  the  under- 
seas,  a  story  of  three  continents  ablaze  with  the  horrors 
of  the  world's  greatest  war.  Go  over  the  top  of  the 
ocean's  trenches  with  the  hero  author  and  buy 

TORPEDOED  IN  THE  MEDITERRANEAN!   NOW 

Instructive!     Educational!     ThrllliB^! 

The  book  is  printed  from  new,  large  typo  on  good 
paper,  bound  in  paper  cover  with  attractive  design  iri 
;Colors.  For  sale  by  newsdealers  everywhere,  or  sent  by 
mail,  postpaid,  upon  receipt  of  price,  35  cents. 

J.  S.  OGILVIE   PUBLISHING   COMPANY 
RO.B0X  767  57  Rose  Street,  New  York 


.'•  \N 


"6: 


■  ."ZlriG  P^7.jr.C\VJ^a  Or 


,  ft  astounds!  aiul  them  some! 

HAIR  RAISING! 

Startling S  Amazing'; 

Sophie  Lyons 

mm  OF  THE  SURGLARS. 

BY  SOPHIE  LYONS 

The  Uncrowneil  Queen  of  Crime 


In  this  epoch  making  book  in  which  truth  makes  the  wildest 
maginings  of  the  wizards  of  fiction  dull  and  comn^onplace,  Sophie 
Svvons,  known  to  the  police  of  two  continents  as  the  shrewdest, 
cleveLest,  brainiest,  and  most  daring  and  resourceful  criminal  of 
the  age,  tears  aside  the  veil  and  rev«='als  the  most  desperate  charac- 
ters of  the  underworld,  the  millionaire  aristocrats  of  crime,  as  they 
plot,  plan  and  later  execute  their  dark  and  incredible  deeds.  With 
breatliless  interest  we  watch  these  masked  midnight  marauders  as 
the  mighty  steel  vaults  of  the  greatest  financial  institutions  swing 
■^v'ide  at  their  bidding,  yielding  their  boundless  treasures  to  the 
crafty  cracksman  and  scientific  burglar,  the  magic  manipulators 
■m  gun,  dynamite  and  jimmy. 

Through  the  Whole  Gamut  of  Crime, 
Stupendous  and  Blood  Curdling. 

We  are  personally  conducted  by  the  Queen  of  Criminals.  Read 
how  Gainsborough's  matchless  Duchess  of  Devonshire  was  stolen, 
and  how  the  most  des^rate  exploits  in  the  annals  of  '^^me  were 
snccessfuJly  executed.  Your  heart  will  almost  cease  to  beat  as  the 
authoress  tells  j^ou  of  her  miraculous  escape  from  Sing  Sing. 
Kead  how  a  million  dollars  was  dishonestly  made,  and  learn  ia 
^pite  of  enormous  ill  gotten  gains 

WHY  CRIME  DOES  NOT  PAY. 

TENSE!  THRILLING!.  BLOOD   CURDLING!! 

FICTION  OUTDONE !         ROMANCE  ROUTED ! 

.  The  most  fascinating  and  astounding  narrative  of  the  underworlfil 
^ver  placed  before  the  public. 

Tlie  work  contains  268  pages  of  reading  matter  besides  beiag 
luUy  illustrated  and  bound  in  handsome  paper  cover  printed  in 
solora. 
'  Price   35    cents,   for   sale   everywhere. 

Jo  3.  OGLIYIE  PUBUSHING  COMPANY, 

57  Rose  Street,  ...  -  Nsw  Yor% 


tlTmCEplgO^^. 


UUGH!  YELLl   SCREAM! 
Read  It i  Read  It!  Read  It! 

A  Bad 
Boy's  Diary 

By  "UTTLI  6E0R6IE," 

The  Laughing  Cyclone. 


THE  FUNNIEST  BOOK  EVER  WRITTEN! 

In  this  matchless  volume  of  irresistible,  rib-tickling  fun, 
the  Bad  Boy,  an  incarnate  but  lovable  imp  of  mischief,  records 
his  daily  exploits,  experiences,  pranks  and  adventures,  through 
all  of  which  you  follow  liim  with  an  absorbing  interest  that 
never  flags,  'stopping  only  when  convulsions  of  laughter  and 
aching  sides  force  the  mirth-swept  body  to  take  an  involuntary 
respite  from  a  feast  of  fun,  stupendous  and  overwhelming. 

In  the  pages  of  this  excruciatingly  funny  narrative  can  be 
found  the  elixir  of  youth  for  all  man  and  womankind.  The 
magic  of  its  pages  compel  the  old  to  become  young,  the  care- 
worn gay,  and  carking  trouble  hides  its  gloomy  head  and  flies 
away  on  the  blitliesome  wings  of  uncontrollable  laughter. 

IT   MAKES  YOU  A  SOY  AGAIN! 
JT  MAKES  LIFE  WORTH  WHILE! 

For  old  or  young  it  is  a  tonic  and  sure  cure  for  the  blues. 
The  BAD  BOY'S  DIARY  is  making  the  whole  world  scream" 
with  laughter.  Get  in  line  and  laugh  too.  BUY  IT  TO-DAY  I 
'?it  contains  276  solid  pages  of  reading  matter,  illustrated,  ia 
bound  in  lithographed  paper  covers,  and  will  be  sent  by  mail, 
postpaid,  to  any  address  on  receipt  of  price,  30  cents.  Address 
all  ordres  to 

J.  S.  OGILVIE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 
k  0.  Box  767.  57  ROSE  STE££I,  ITEW  YOBS. 


IT  GRIPS!  THRILLS!  HYPN0T12ESV 


AND 


Holds  You  SpeSlboignd. 


SIPSY 


The  Romantic  Kero  of  the  flystl' 
Realm  of  Detective  Literatyre*  \ 

Those  of  you  who  have  retiti 
"Macon  Moore"  will  welcome 
this  additional  story  by  the  same 

author  JUDSOfJ  R.  TflYLOK. 

GIPSY  BLAIR,  The  Western  Detective,  is  a  mighty  figure  of 
stupendous  interest,  whose  astounding  adventures  and  uncanny 
exploits  one  watches  with  throbbing  heart  and  bated  breath. 
In  this  tense  and  gripping  drama  from  real  life,  one  witnessesf 
the  unfolding  of  an  absorbingly  interesting  series  of  criminal 
plots  and  counterplots,  which  revolve  around  a  man  of  superb 
courage  and  heroic  mould,  at  times  fighting  single-handed 
against  bands  of  the  most  notorious  and  desperate  criminals. 
The  rescue  of  the  beautiful  Lucy  Leonard,  from  the  clutches  of 
murderous  desperadoes  and  outlaws,  vibrates  every  ne:^7e  in  the 
human  body  and  is  one  of  the  most  fascinating  and  stirring  in^ 
cidpnts  ever  recorded  in  criminal  history.' 

Impossibtd  to  resist  the  weird  fascination  of  this 
hair-raising    drama    ot    5x»ve    and    lawlessne<?s« 

\h  EEAST  OF  EXCITEMENT!   A  MENTAL  COUKTAIh 

It    makes    the    masterpieces   of   other    de- 
tective fiction  seem  duU  and  commonpiace. 

GIP^^  BLAIR  contains  250  pages,  printed  froa 
lT,rge  type,  ^yid  bound  in  attractive,  illustrated  paper 
covers.  For  sale  by  booliseilers  everywhere,  or  sl  | 
I J  maiL  postpjiid,  on  receipt  of  Pricej  35   C^nl':.. 

E:>UY  H£RE  AND  M0¥/!    DOf^T  DELkYi 

J.  S.  OGILVIE  PUEXISHma  COMFANY, 
:?  0.  Box  767,  57  KOSE  STREET,  NEW  YOBS^ 


THRILLS!  SHIVERS!  EXCITEMENTI 


will  be  your  portion  if  you  read 
any  of  the  following 

jjATTLiNs  mm 

DETECTIVE  STORIES 


by  popular  authors. 

Away  from  the  hackneyed 
and  ordinary  and  brushing  aside 
the  conventional,  these  marvel- 
lous stories  by  well-known  and 
skilled  authors,  mark  a  new 
epoch  in  Detective  Literature. 

They  will  keep  you  guessing  from  start  to  finish 
and  you  will  thoroughly  enjoy  them. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  selected  titles  from  otar 
famous 

RAILROAD  SERIES 


THK  MAN  FROM  THB  WEST_ 


..A  Wali,  Street  Man 


MACON  MOORB,  The  Southern  Detective     Judson  R.  Ti^LOR 


.D.  B.  Shaw 


TBN  TRUE  SECRET  SERVICE  STORIES 

ARSENE  LUPIN,  Gentleman  Burglar Maurice  LEBi^ANa 

ARSENE  LUPIN  ve^^sus  HERLOCK  SHOLMES M.  Lebi^anC 

THE  CHINATOWN  TRUNK  MYSTERY OuvE  Harper 

SHERLOCK  HOLMES  DETECTIVE  STORIES A.  C.  Doyi,© 

SPRIGGS,  THE  CRACKSMAN-™ -^- Headon  H11.1; 

SOPHIE  LYONS,  QUEEN  OF  THE  BURGLARS. Sophie  Lyons' 
GIPSY  BLAIR,  The  Western  Detective- ^Judson  R.  Tayi,0Pj^ 

These  books  contain  250  to  350  pages  each,  boun  «| 
m  handsome  paper  covers  printed  in  colors.  \ 

For  sale  by  Newsdealers  everywhere,  or  sent  by 
mail  postpaid  on  receipt  of  35  cents. 

J.  S.  OGILVIE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

«7  ROSE  STREET  NEW  YORK 


SIZZLER    FROM    SIZZLERVILLEr 

6ets  You  From  the  Word  Sol  | 

ROHANCE  ROUTED! 
FICTION  ABASHED  J 

ATexasMoy 

In  this  tremendously  interest- 
ing work  the  lamous  and  heroic 
Cowboy  King,  Chas.  A.  Siringo, 

I     talk  the  story  of  his  dare-devil 

li£^  in  the  palmy  days  of  the  Wild  South  West- 

THE  BLOOD  RUNS  RIOT 

98  we  watch  the  bellowing  herds  of  long-homed  cattle,  Wvin^ 
tribes  of  blood-thirsty  Indians,  mighty  bands  of  grazing  buffalo, 
sweep  panorama-like  across  the  boundless  plains  and  rolling 
prairie.  The  author  in  his  breezy,  irresistible  style  carries  the 
reader  through  a  thousand  blood-curdling  adventures  with 
marauding  redskins,  gamblers,  desperadoes  and  stampeding 
Steers,  holding  one  tense  and  speUbound  to  ttie  '^ery  end  of  his 
astounding  narrative. 

A  Pulsating  Record  of  Red-Blooded  Deeds! 
%  Thrill  in  Every  Lino!  A  Sensation  in  Every  Chapters 

FACTS !     FACTS ! !     FACTS ! !  I   and  TRUTH  HI! 
^umphantly  rout  the  wildest  imagloiogs  of  the  fh^tJoBistl 

Get  in  line  and  secure  the  best  record  ever 
penned  of  the  fast-vanishing  Wild  Western  life. 

I     A  TEXAS  COWBOY  contains  256  pages,  printec,- 
rom  large  type,  and  bound  in  attractive  cover  printed 
fn  colors.  For  sale  by  booksellers  everywhere,  or  sent 
by  mail,  postpaid,  on  receipt  of  Price,  35  GentS. 

J.  S.   OGrlLVIE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 
^.0.  Box  767.  57  EO&E  STREET,  NEW  YORi, 


SENSATIONAL 
FRENCH    FICTION 

^ — ^'-r,  makes  a  strong  appeal  to  a  cer* 

■:-{^Jp%^  tain  class  of  readers — pecplo 
who  have  lived  long  enough  to 
realize  that  there  are  hui^e  prob- 
lems of  sex  and  matrimony,  tli^.t 
can  only  be  solved  through  the 
actual  experience  of  the  per- 
sons concerned.  Numberless 
books  have  been  and  are  being 
written  and  published  treating 
on  these  questions,  and  if 
through  reading  them  we  are 
enabled  to  enlarge  our  view, 
look  at  our  problem  from  a 
dij&erent  angle,  appropriate  for  our  own  iTse  the 
benefit  of  others*  experience  either  actual  or  imagi- 
Bary,  by  just  so  much  are  we  better  able  to  live  and 
think  aright  and  secure  to  ourselves  the  happiness 
that  is  our  inherent  right  and  goal. 

SAPPHO 


BY    ALPHONSE    DAUDET, 

Is  a  book  dealing  with  the  great  elements  of  love  and 
passion  as  depicted  by  life  in  the  gay  French  capital, 
Paris.  It  created  an  enormous  sensation  when  first 
written,  and  has  been  in  steady  demancl  ever  since' 
*irom  those  who,  for  the  first  time,  have  a  chance  to 

?ad  it.     It  should  be  read  by  every  thoughtful  man/ 
tAud  woman.  ., 

For  sale  by  booksellers  and  newsdealers  everywheiv , 
or  sent  by  mail,  postpaid,  onrec-eipt  of  price,  ^if  S^ritS* 

J.  S.  OaiLVIE  PlTBLISHma  CO  r,< 

P  0-  Box  767.  Ut  HOSE  STEEET,  ^OE:^, 


The  Confessions 
Of  a  Princess 


IFl 


A  book  of  this  sort  would  necessarily 
be  anonymous, and  the  name  of  the  authoi 
SfKG^'^'^  f    "^    i|        |g  j^Q^    essential  as  indicative  of  literal}' 
['  ability,  the  strength  of  the  story  depend- 

[  ing  upon  its  action  as  revealed  through 

the  laying  bare  of  the  innermost  secrets  of 
a  ''Princess  of  the  E.ealm*''  whose  dis- 
position and  character  were  such  as  to 
compel  her  to  fmd  elsewhere  than  in  her 
own  home  the  love,  tenderness,  admira- 
tion,  and  society  which  was  lacking  there, 
and  which  her  being  craved.  Position,  money  and  power, 
«eem  to  those  who  do  not  possess  them,  to  bring  happiness. 
Such  is  not  the  case,  however,  where  stability  of  character  is 
lackrng  and  where  one  depends  upon  the  pleasures  of  sense 
for  the  enjoyment  of  life  rather  than  on  the  ?  ^'".oraplishment  of 
Mngs  worth  while,  based  on  high  ideals. 

The  v/riter  has  taken  a  page  from  her  life  and  ha^  given  it 
to  the  world.  She  has  laid  bare  the  soul  of  a  woman,  that 
some  other  woman  (or  scrr.e  man)  might  profit  thereby.  The 
names  have  been  changed,  and  such  events  omitted  as  might 
lead  too  readily  to  the  discovery  of  their  identity.  Each  the 
victim  of  circumstance,  yet  the  price  is  demanded  of  the  oae 
who  fell  the  victim  of  environment. 

I7ze  Confessions  of  a  Princess  is  the  story  of  a  w(  man 
who  saw,  conquered  and  fell. 

The  book  contains  270  pages,  printed  frona  ne^^. 
targe  type  on  good  paper,  bound  in  paper  cover  witk 
.^Itractive  design  in  colors.  For  sale  by  nc/vsd^alers 
everywhere,  or  sent  by  mail,  postpaid,  upon  receipt  of 

35  certs. 

J.  S.  OaiLVIE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 
P.  0.  Boz  767.  57  £OSE  STEEET,  HEW  YO£K^ 


t'liiiHEa  B  iL« 


■MmBOWSER 

-.^>- ^;;  BY.  M.OOAD ':;'-' 


PAMi 


Funny !      Funnier  I !      Funiest !  I ! 

A  Monarch  In  The  Realm  of  Mirth! 

Gales    of    Merriment!  ^--c^ 

Cyclones  of  Laughter! 
Accompany  the  perusal  of 

THE     HUMOROUS 
MR.  BOWSER, 

By  M.    QUAD, 

Wilh    16    Full-page    Illustrations 

By  Merle  Johnson. 

THE     WORLD'S     FUNNIEST 
FUNNY  BOOK! 

A    Coacentraisd    Conglomeration    of 
Comical  Conceit? 

IT  TICK!  TICK!  TICKLES! 

With  Its  Irresistible,  Laughter  Cofw^elling  Humor, 

This  gem  of  domestic  comedy  introduces  us  to  the  funny,  fussy, 
pompous,  irascible,  domineering,  bombastic,  bossy  Mr.  Bowser, 
and  his  meek,  lovable  quick  witted  wife. 

Sketch  after  sketch  reveals  intensely  ludicrous  incidents  in 
which  the  belligerent  Bowser  concocts  some  scheme  by  which  he 
may  annihilate,  squelch  and  overpower  his  good-natured  better 
half,  by  worldly  knowledge,  superior  intellect,  and  majesty  of 
sex.  You  will  laugh  until  exhausted  nature  will  permit  you  to 
laugh  no  more.     Get  acquainted  with 

THAT  KOMICAL  KUSS  BOWSER! 

This  unique  volume  of  riotous  fun  chases  gloom,  dispels  trouble, 
evolves  sunshine. 

A  Mental  Cocktail!     A  Literary  Tonic! 

The  Humorous  Mr.  Bowser  contains  256  pages,  with  16  full- 
Jj  page  illustrations  by  the  renowned  cartoonist.  Merle  Johnson  and 
is  bound  in  illustrated  paper  covers  printed  in  colors. 

Price,  35  Cents  postpaid. 

J.  S.  OGILVIE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 


57  Rose  Street 


NEW  YORK 


BERTHA  M.  CLAY 

Is  the  Author  of 

The  Duke's  Secret— Thorns  and 
Orange  Blossoms — The  Broken  Wed- 
ding Ring — A  Mad  Love — Dora  Thorne 
— A  Golden  Heart — A  Woman's 
Temptation — Repented  at  Leisure — 
Beyond  Pardon — Thrown  on  the 
World. 

The  above  are  the  best  works  of  this  . 
popular  author,  each  one  being  a  love  f 
story  of  unparalleled  interest.  By  her 
magic  pen  we  are  carried  through  the 
Intricate  maze  of  thrilling  and  ro- 
mantic scenes  until  the  plot  of  hate 
against  love,  of  Injustice  against  jus- 
tice, and  all  the  trials  and  tribulation» 
i  of  the  hero  and  heroine  are  ended,  when  we  lay  the  story 
aside  with  regret 

MARY  J.  HOLMES' 

Booka  arm  also  intentely  interaating,    Hmr  two  haat  arm 

TEMPEST  and  SUNSHINE— and  LENA  RIVERS. 

CHARLES  GARY  ICE 

Author  of  the  following 
'''  booka  ia  equally  popular. 

A  Wounded 
Heart — A  Woman's  Soul — The  Ashes 
of  Love — Fate— Only  a  GirPs  Love. 

Guided  by  a  master  hand  we  watch 
with  bated  breath  the  unfolding  of 
the  stories  by  this  renowned  authon 
The  unexpected  happens,  surprise  fol- 
lows surprise,  plot  is  succeeded  by 
counterplot;  vice  and  virtue,  honor 
and  knavery  struggle  desperately  for 
mastery  until  the  mind  and  heart  are 
stirred  to  their  very  depths. 


The  above  books  contain  250  to  450  pages  each,  printed  on 
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upon  receipt  of  price,  35  cents. 

J.  S.  Ofill.Vm  PUR.  CO..  S7  Poftfi  St..  N.V. 


STOP!  HALT!  ATTENTION! 


Read  the  most  astounding  and 
exciting  love  story  of  the  age 

ONL/  A 

OIRL'5  LOVE 

BY 

CHAKLE5  GAKVICEe 


IT 

ENRAPTURES!  ENTRANCES! 

THRILLS !  DELIQMTS ! 

In  this  intensely  dramatic  and  thrilling  love  story,  we 
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efbsorbing  interest.  Rank  and  wealth,  pride  and  prejudice, 
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to  break  off  a  romantic  and  thrilling  love  match,  the  develop- 
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the  genius  of  the  author,  we  are,  with  spell-bound  interest, 
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BEB 


A  WOMAN'S  50UL 

By  CHARLES  GARVICE. 

^— -r^---..         A  hltersiry  Sensation! 

A  flatchless  flasterpiece!         ^ 

The  Big  Noise  of  Fiction  1 

A  Story  that  Grips  the  Heart  1^ 

A   Story  that  Stirs  the  Soul  I 

Guided  by  a  master  hand  we  wstcfe 
with  bated  breath  the  unioiding  of  a 
r^tory  of  unparalleled  interest.     Ever 
the  unexpected  happens,  surprise  fol- 
lov/s   surprise,  plot  is  succeeded  by- 
counterplot.    Vice  and  virtue,  honor 
c.nd  knavery,  true  love  and  duplicity, 
struggle  desperately  and.  inceosantiy 
;     for  mastery  until  the  mind  is  bswild- 
.3^    ered  and  the  heart  and  soul  are  stirred 
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):^'\7ept   irreGisti biy    along    the    seductive    and    c:  '        °    - 
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by  mail,  postpaid,  upon  receipt  of  35  cents. 

J.  S.  OGILVIE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 

!».  0.  Box  767.  57  E0SS  STKEET.  KEW  YOEK. 


miMU  I^BSOHEliG!  DaiGHTFUL! 


The  Story  28r«saUQE]  of  ths  Ib^I 


BY 


CHARLES  GARVICE. 

Autlic:-  of    "The  Ashes'  of  T.ove, 
"A  Woman's  Soui,'''  EvC. 


It  Grips!    ltHc!fe!  ■ltT;iii;;s 


By  tha  rriagic  pen  of  the  author  we  a^^'^  carried  through  the 

luctive  and  intricate  mazes  of  a  thrilling  aud  romantic  life 

iraa  of  unparalleled  interest. 

In  beautifal  England,  sunny  France,  and  distant  AustrpJfa, 
we  v/atch  the  movements  of  life-like,  splendidly  drawn  fesh 
and  blood  characters,  and  follow  their  fortunes  with  a  zealous 
'  votion  that  never  flags. 

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<L-estral  home,  Vvdiich  finally  passes  into  the  posession  cf  the  scion 
of  a  noble  house,  the  rightful  heir.  Sir  lierrick  Powis,  thanks 
to  the  sacrifices  of  the  heroine,  than  whom  no  more  entrancing 
and  beautiful  character  exists  in  the  whole  range  of  modem 
■fiction.  The  ending  of  the  story  is,  of  course,,  a  happy  one,  but 
this  is  not  achieved  until  the  trusting  heart  of  fne  heroine  has 
b'^en  sorely  wounded,  and  she  has  passed  through  trials  and 

inlations,  v/hich  win  for  her  the  love  and  sympathy  of  th^ 

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BOOKS  BY 


BERTHA  M.  CLAY 


4410.  .i'WEEN 

TVO  LOVES 


We  have  just  added  two  titles 
new  to  our  line  of  Railroad  Series- 
books  by  this  popular  authCx 
entitled 

WHICH  LOVED  HIM  BEST? 

and 

BETWEEN  TWO  LOVES 


In  the  same  series  are  issued 

86  A  WOMAN'S  TEMPTATION 

87  BEYOND  PARDON 

89  REPENTED   AT   LEISURE 

90  A   GOLDEN   HEART 

91  A   MAD   LOVE 

92  DORA  THORNE 

too     THE   DUKE'S   SECRET 

101  THORNS   AND    ORANGE    BLOSSOMS 

102  A  BROKEN  WEDDING   RING 
106      THROWN   ON  THE  WORLD 
110      WIFE   IN   NAME    ONLY 

The  above  are  the  best  works  of  this  popular  author,  each  one 
being  a  love  story  of  unparalleled  interest.  By  her  magic  pen  we 
are  carried  through  the  intricate  maze  of  thrilling  and  romantic 
scenes  until  the  plot  of  hate  against  love,  of  injustice  against 
justice,  and  all  the  trials  and  tribulations  of  the  hero  and  heroine 
are  ended,  when  we  lay  the  story  aside  with  regret. 

The  books  contain  250  to  450  pages  each,  printed  on  good 
paper  in  clear  type,  and  bound  in  handsome  paper  cover  printed 
in  colors.  For  sale  by  all  booksellers  or  mailed  by  us  postpaid 
upon  receipt  of  Price,  35  cents. 

J.  S.  OGILVIE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

.57  ROSE  STREET  NEW  YORK 


OLD-TIME    SONGS. 

This  volume  contains  the  words  and  music  of  choicest  gema 
©f  the  old  and  familiar  songs  we  used  to  sing  when  we  we^d 
young.  It  has  been  arranged  with  great  care  and  we  ht^ .  3  no 
nesilatio??.  in  saying  that  it  is  the  best  book  of  the  kind  pub- 
lished. Bead  the  following  partial  table  of  Contents.  The 
book  ccnt^.ins  130  scngs  besides  the  ones  mentioned  here  an4 
^ironM  cost  $50  in  sheet  music  form. 

'-""m^  Willie,  We  Have  Missed  YoUe 

Wait  for  the  Wagon. 

Oh  Dear!  What  Can  the  Mati* 
tcr  be 

Oh  Why  do  you  Tease  Me. 

Oh,  Would  I  Were  a  Bird. 

Oh,  Would  I  Were  a  Boy  Again,  i 

Over  the  Garden  WalL 

Pilgrim  Fathers,  The. 

Pat  Malloy. 

Pauper's  Drive,  The. 

Paddle  Your  Own  OanoQ. 

Kobin  Adair. 

Bobinson  Crusoe. 

Eose  of  Allan  dale. 

Star  Spangled  Banner,  The. 

Saint  Patrick  Was  a  Gentle* 
man. 

See  Saw,  Margery  Daw. 

Sing  a  Song  of  Sixpence. 

See,    the    Conquering    Hero 
Comes. 

Stop  Dat  Knockin*. 

Sally  in  Our  Alley. 

Scots,  What  Ha'e  Wi'  Wallac* 
Bled. 

Sword  of  Bunker  Hill,  The. 

Spider  and  the  Fly,  The. 

Shells  of  Ocean. 

Steal  Away. 

Take  Back  the  Heart. 

Three  Fishers  Went  Sailing. 

Ten  Little  Niggers. 

'Tis  the  Last  Rose  of  Summer* 

Ta-Ra-Ra- Boom-De-Ay. 

Thou  Art  Gone  From  My  Gazo, 

There  is  a  Green  Hill  far  Away, 


^D-cii't  You  Go,  Tommy. 

Mee  es  a  Bird. 

in  tiie  Gloaming. 

I'Tohn  Anderson,  My  Joe. 

Katie*s  Letter. 

Little  Annie  Rooney. 

Larboard  Watch. 

Life  on  the  Ocean  Wave,  A. 

Low  Backed  Car,  The. 

Mollie,  Put  the  Kettle  On. 

Meet  Me  by  Moonlight. 

l^ancy  Lee. 

O,  Bovs  Carry  Me  'Long. 

Oh!  Susannah. 

Our  Flag  is  There. 

O  Had  I  Wings  Like  a  Dove. 

•pid  Oaken  Bucket,  The. 

O  Come,  Come  Away. 

Bocked  in  tlie  Craclle  of  the 

Deep. 
Hock  Me  to  Sieep^  Mother. 
'  ^  parklin  g  and  Bright. 


here  wms  an  Old  Woman. 
'i'is  the  Last  Rose  of  Summer.There  was  a  Jolly  Miller. 

This  book  of  176  pages  containing  the  above  entire  list  of 
Bongs  and  many  others,  tbo-rds  and  music,  vrill  be  sent  hj  mail 
postpaid  upon  receipt  of  pHoe,  Paper  Covar,  35  cents.  Ad- 
dress all  orders  to 

i.  S.  OGILVIE  PUBUSHHTQ  €0.,  £7  Eose  Street.  New  Yoxki, 


A  SPECIAL  BOOK  FOR  WOHEN. 

THE 

**ART  OF  PLEA5INQ  HEN" 

was  written  by  a  -woman  who  knows  whereof  she  speak^;.  Iti 
■will  be  found  very  interesting  to  any  female,  whether  married 
or  single,  old  or  young. 

Here  are  a  few  of  the  subjects  treated  in  the  volume :  ; 

i^dy  Beawty,  A  Word  of  Warning:, 

rheGirS  Who  Wins,  5osne  Unfailing  Methods> 

The  Qiii  Wlio'Fails,  Girls  Whom  Men  Like, 

The  Wife  Who  is  Loved,         Secret  of  the  Widow's  Powd 

Numerous  other  matters  in  addition  to  the  abore  are  treateu. 
in  the  book. 

READ  THIS  CAREFULLY. 

Tho  woman  who  desires  to  get  married,  but  is  unable  to  do 
S>f.  will  find  an  immense  amount  of  advice  and  assistance  in  this 
jtittie  volume,  and  will  learn  what  manner  of  woman  is  liked  and 
wh*  disliked  by  men,  the  reasons  for  success  and  failure  in  the 
race  matrimonial,  some  unfailing  methods  of  catching  a  husband, 
why  it  13  that  a  plain  widow  can  come  into  a  commiinity  and 
take  her  pick  among  the  most  eligible  men,  and  finally  how  to- 
retain  the  love  of  a  husband  when  he  has  been  captured  and  how 
to  get  another  one  when  he  has  been  gathered  to  his  fathers. 
Any  woman  who  cannot  win  a  husband  by  the  rules  laid  down 
in  this  book  does  not  deserve  one. 

HIQULY  ENDORSED  EY  HINSSTERS  OF  T!2E  GOSPEL. 

It  is  a  pleasure  to  speak  a  good  word  for  a  book  like  this,  i 
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Such  a  book,  if  considerately  read,  cannot  fail  to  have  an  en- 
r.obling  and  elevating  influcDce  upon  the  character.  God  blesff 
;  t  on  its  mission  of  exalting  and  purifying  and  making  happy  the. 
v  oung  ladies  of  our  land.  Chas.  E.  Orr, 

Pastor  of  the  Church  of  God,  Federalsburg,  Md. 

The  book  contains  150  pages  and  will  be  sent  by  mail,  po  i 
•paid,  to  any  address  upon  receipt  ol 25  cents  for  the  paper  boi;  ] 
book;,  v  Agents  wanted  :o 

^ell  this  book.  "We  give  a  big  commission.  x\ddreii3  all  ordt  rr, 
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J.  S.  OGILVIE  PUBLISHmG  COMPANY, 
p.  0.  Bos  767.  57  BOSS  STKEET.  KEW  YOEK, 


v| 


DON'T  MARRY 

This  book  was  not  written  with  the  idea  of  advising 
people  not  to  marry,  but  rather  with  a  view  to  giving 
ikem  advice  as  to  whom  NOT  to  marry.    Yon  can 

readily  see  how  important  the  marriage  question  iSjg 
low  it  will  come  into  your  life,  and  how  your  deeisioife 
f lay  be  your  uplifting  or  your  downfall. 

This  is  a  question  no  one  is  free  from,  and  this! 
book  will  not  only  help  you  to  decide,  but  will  result 
in  life-long  happiness.  "The  genius  of  solectioa  is 
the  rarest  of  faculties." 

The  following  is  a  list  of  contents : 

'Doa't  Marry  for  BeantyAlonQ.  Don't  Break .  a  Marriagt 
iion't  Marry  for  Money.  Promise. 

lon't  MarryaYerySmailMan.  I^o^'t  Many  For  Spite. 

VoTxt  Marry  too  Young.  3)oii't  Mitten  a  Mechardc. 

i>0!i't  Marry  a  Coquette.  ^o»'t  Marry  a  Man  t^o  Pcoi; 

i)on*t  Elope  to  Marry.  Don't  Marry  a  Crank. 

?jml^h^nallY  f  Thmit  Prf^^^tafn^.  Don*t  Marry  Eine  Feathers, 

Son  t  Marrya  Drunk^d.  2>on't  Marry  Without  Love, 

2}oii't  Marry  a  Spendthrift.  Don't  Marry  a  Stingy  Man. 

ron't  Marry  a  Miser.  Don't  Marry  too  Hastily. 

Don't  Marry  Far    Apart  in  Don't  be  too  Slow  About  Xt» 

Ages.  Don't  Marry  a  Silly  GirL 

f;oii't  Marry  too  Old.  Don't  Expect  too  Much  l» 
Bon't  Marry  Odd  Sizes.  Marriage. 

Don't  Marry  a  Clown.  Don't  ]^arry  a  Fop. 

Bon't  Marry  a  Dude.  Don't  Marry  in  Fun. 

^jon't  Marry  From  Pity,  Don't  Spurn  a  Man  £or  H!a 
Don't  Marr^^  for    aa    Ideal  Poverty« 

Marriage.  Don't  Marry  Kecklessly. 

Ms  book  contains  112  pages,  size  7x4^^  inches^,- 
,      ied  in  large  type  on  good  quality  paper,  is  bound 
ill  durable  paper  cover,  and  will  be  3£z:l  by  mail,  post 
paid,  to  any  address  upon  receipt  of  25  cents  in  U.  S» 
stamps  or  postal  money  order.    Address  all  orders  ta 

J.  a.  OOILVIE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 
f .  0.  Boz  76?.  57  EOSE  STBEE7.  NEW  YQ3X 


OGILVIE'S  HAND  BOOK  SERIES. 


li^ltK.-'. 


I 


How  to 

The  Old  Witches'  Dream  Book 
and  Fortune  Teller. 

Two  Hundred  After  -  Dinner 
Stories. 

Ihe  Swindlers  of  America. 

Art  of  Ventriloquism. 

Howard  Thurston's  Card 
Tricks. 

Hand- Shadows  on  the  Wall.^ 

Your  Hand  is  Your  Fortune.. 

Southwick's  Jokes  and  Recita- 
tions. 

Sou  thwack's  Irish  Dialect 
Poenis  and  Recitations. 

Fortune  Telling  by  Cards, 
Dice,  Crystal,  Etc. 

Carter's  Magic  and  Magicians. 

Taylor's  Popular  Recitations. 

The  Spider's  V/eb. 

Love,  Courtship  and  Marriage. 

Temptations  of  the  Stage. 


The  following  list  contains  the  BESOP 
that  is  written  on  dreams,  recitfv- 
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Gipsy  Dream  Book  and  Fortune  Teller. 
Amateur's  Guide  to  Magic  and  Mystery, 
How  to  Entertain  a  Social  Party". 
V/oo  and  How  to  Win. 

Recitations  For  Little  People." 

A  Hundred  Ways  of  Kissingf 
Girls.    > 

Five  Hundred  Toasts. 

Great  Words  of  Great  Men. 

After-Dinner  Stories. 

A  Thousand  Conundrums. 

Love  Aff-airs  of  Actors. 

How  to  Mix  Drinks. 

Hpw  to   Read   Character  by 
Handwriting. 

Green  Room  Gossip. 


I  Behiiid  the  Scenes. 
^Childien's  Recitations. 


The  Art  of  Kissing. 

Palmistry. 

How  to  Become  a  Successm. 

Newspaper  Man. 
How  to  Become  Beautiful. 
The  Album  Writer's  Friend. 
The    Art    of    Rising   in    the 

World. 
The  Confessions  of  a  YouMTf 

Girl.  ^' 

Vail's  Dream  Book. 
Pocket  Manual  of  Useful  In:- 

formation.  / 

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;»  0.  Bo:c  767,  57  EOSE  STEEET,  IIEW  YOBS^ 


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Measures,  Lumber  Measurement  Tables,  Tables  for  Mechanics  and  Machin- 
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Unless  you  are  one  out  of  a  thousand  you  v^eslre  to  beoome  wealthy. 
The  almighty  dollar  is  the  ruler  of  men  to  a  great  extent,  and  how  to 
get  and  keep  "the  root  of  all  evil"  is  the  one  study  and  aim  iu  life  of  the 
generality  of  mankind.  There  is  no  secret  road  to  wealth;  there  Is,  per- 
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it  Is  uphill  only  part  of  the  way,  the  rest  is  easy 

If  you  have  rfeu.d  over  the  above  list  of  Recipes,  which  is  but  a  email 
>art  of  what  are  contained  In  this  Immense  book,  you  must  bo  convince»d 
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^profit  is  your  own — it  does  not  go  to  enrich  some  one  else  Wo  never  yet 
heard  of  a  copy  soUl  that  gave  dissatisfaction.  Hundreds  ar&  kept  under 
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1 


""^his  Book  is  !ik©  no  other  Book.'* 

THE  EVERYDAY  EDUCATOR 

OR 

KOW  TO  DO  BUSINESS 

By  Prof.  Seymour  Eaton 

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feature.    Here  are  the  titles  cf  a  few: 

Banking — Bookkeeping — Business  Points  for  Young  Busi- 
ness Men — Character  in  Hands — Civil  Service  Examinations 
' — Commercial  Arithmetic — Common  Blunders  Corrected — 
Compendium  of-  Pacts  and  Figures — Correct  Thing  in  Dress 
and  Manners — Correspondence — Curiosities— Easy  Lessons  in. 
Astronomy  —  Everyday  Geography  —  Famous  Autographs  — • 
Famous  Rulers — ^Figure  Shorthand — Games,  Puzzles,  Conun- 
drums, Kinks  and  Wrinkles — Good  Openings  in  New  Trades 
— Good  Readings  and  Recitations — Handy  Bible  Notes — 
Handy  Helps  for  Bookkeepers — Handy  Helps  for  Correspond-* 
ftng  Clerks — Hints  on  Public  Speaking — How  to  Apply  for  a 
Situation — How  to  Buy  and  Sell  Stocks — How  to  Conduct  a 
Home  Reading  Club — How  to  do  business — ^How  to  Educate 
Yourself — How  to  Form  a  Stock  Company — Hqw  to  Get  a 
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Spelling — Literature,  Authors  and  Books — "Mayflower"  P?s-9 
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d 


^s*v 


0      I 


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i  o  ^si 


\7e  <to  not  hesitete  to  523^  this  •  is  the  be^^ 
1  and  largest  collection  of  originai  and  popn' 
'  toasts  pablisbed.   Hundreds  never  in  pn, 

before  and  aii  the  classics  by  worid-renowne 

authors: 


eray 
hth 


LongfeOow  Bes^  Jofemos^ 

Wordsworth 

Mrs.  Wilcox 

Burns 

Tom  Moore 

Thos.  Hooi 
Ivds  is  a  DOCK  lor  all  classes.  There's  no  ic:.. 
be  called  upon  to  propose  a  toiist.  To  bj  '.in;  r 
barrassment.  Send  for  this  book  and  memoiiz 
i5c;  cloth-bound,  30c.  Mention  5 

A  Thousand  f 


!ien  you  xok 
■■  cd  means  era 
irvv.  Bymai 
"^oasts.". 


Connndriim 


^«  ^ 


This  is  a  companion  book  to  our  *'  SC 
Toasts."    It  is  pocket  size  and  coiitei 
enough  conundrums,  riddles,  etc.,  to  ' 
you  for  years.  Here  are  one  er  two  ^ 
at  randorii : 

Q.  If  a  bear  went*  into  at  ^^y 
would  be  want>? 

^    A.  fduzzlmi\ 
Q.  Why  Is  a  new-bon^  hp-h\r  V"- 

.   A.  Because  It*  h2g!m.?,  v 

^^^  V-n^  :■':-.  ?:.  ^  «food  d^;'-... 

/.w.  I  d^ior  xvita  a  L . 

Well,  do;  s,  t.nere  are  997  more  c:  . 
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RECKONER, 

FORM  AND  LOG  BOOK 

AND 

/AGES  CALCULATOR 


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EMPTATIGNS  DF  THE  STAGE, 

There  ic  prob'ibh;"  no  other  book  of  this  kmd  on  the  market 

r-t  t'-l:;  ■•'    ■>,  pnK  t)-nth  from  Stage  Life  as  does  this  one.    If 

J.now  cf  it.     We  herewith  give  the  contents 

a-vv  yodr  own  conclusions:— 

f  <^^  Evei'  in  the  Limellghv. 

-       •  "Propinquity"  verst 

"  A.iociatiou.* 
Flattery, 

See  How  it  Sparkles. 
Gambling— Drugs. 
Dangerous  Pitfa'us  on  Vaib 
-^  Road  to  Success. 

"^-^^  My  Narrow  Escape.     Br  . 

^  Delia  Fox. 

Girls  in  Burlesque  Com- 
Italics.    Bi/  May  Howard, 
A  Nat  ion  at  Her  Feet.    £„ 
Pa  uline  AlurJcham.  ! 

Jane  Ilading's  Career.    Bif 
Ilerstij. 
V  A  'yoraan's  Blighted  Life, 

'\  Ly  Jenrue  O^Nt^iU  Potter^ 

-^  Cigarette  Smoking. 

A  ■Unique  Sensation.    Bu 
NfTia  Farrinrjioii. 

YvcttG  GuUbert's  Songs. 

A  Tragic  End. 

Triurciphs    and    Failure& 

hy  Isabelle  Urquhart.  ^ 
A  Mad  Career.  **  'v 

Likes  to  Wear  Tights,   u^ 
Jessie  Rarileit  Davis, 
i''  Jolly  Jennie  Joyce. 

j'^  Thorns  of  Stage  Life.    ^  / 

,  _    .  Maud  Gregi^ry. 

c^  r"  //  The  Stage  i?  Not  Degene«w 

;.'  "iJ^"  ating.    Bij  Eva  Mudye. 

'^^  Ethics  of  Stage  Morality^ - 

Bi/Je!(SieO'libier. 

Stage-Door  Johnnies, 

-  ?  'Jl  :^i-  Ki;ls'.  Cure  For  the  Stage  Struck. 

;  '^■'ve  Letters.    Mile.  Fougere,      Stock  Companies. 
-  .n  1  lights  to  Tea  Parties.  In  Other  Walks. 

The  above  book  contains  128  pages,  bound  in  pap^i*  CoVe^/ 

ho.ndsomcly  il'astrated  in  colors,  ?^'^  v/ill  be  sent  by  mail,  post-^ 
paid,  to  any  address  upon  receipt  of  25cents.  Address  all  orders  tG> 

J.  S.  OGILVIE  PIIBLI3Ein(J  COMPANY, 
P.  0.  Box  767.  57  ROSE  STREET,  NEW  YOOaK;! 


i 
\ 


NEVER  AGAIN! 

^y  Clarence  L.  CuUen* 


j      '3a  B'JMCM  ?M'.>T  kojr 


How  many  times  have  those 
two  words  been  spoken  ?  Oh 
My!  And  how  often  the  imphed 
promise  been  broken  ?    Oh  My  ! 


Those  of  us  who  have  at- 
tained our  majority  (whatever 
that  may  mean)  realize  that  no 
matter  how  ungodly,  immoral 
or  unseemly  it  is  to  lose  control 
of  self  thru  over-indulgence  in 
strong  liquor,  or  "weak  liquor  for  that  matter,  realize 
that  such  over-indulgence  often  unearths  a  large  fund 
of  humor,'  quaintness,  silliness,  if  you  will,  in  the 
indulgent. 

This  side  of  human  nature  has  been  very  humorous^ 
ly  set  forth  in  our  book 

NEVER  AGAIN 

By  Clarence  L.  CuUen  in  which  members  of  {he  Harlem 
Club  of  Former  Alcoholic  Degenerates  relate  some  of 
their  numerous  peculiar  experiences  when  straying  from 
the  home  fireside. 

Never  Again  contains  128  pages  printed  from  large 
type  and  bound  in  illustrated  paper  cover.  Price  25 
cents,  Postpaid. 

J.  S.  OGILVIE  PUBLISHING  CO. 

S7  ROSE  STREET,  NEW  YORK, 


?  -m 


i'3m 


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RBTURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DEPT. 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 

Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


oCcp;62h.",  , 

rt> 

LD  21A-50m-8,'61 
(Cl795sl0)476B 


General  Library 

University  of  California 

Berkeley 


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^^         \ 

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THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

